The question is whether these impressive figures can constitute a platform for a new Orange Revolution in Ukraine – this time a digital one?

Unfortunately, the answer is probably no.

Ukrainian journalists have, until Yanukovich became president, experienced a relatively free press and have consequently not had a chance to build up their knowledge about how to use the social media. The number of bloggers in Ukraine is actually quite insignificant ­– totally different from the Russian scene, where bloggers and twitter users are powerful opinion leaders, despite the lack of press freedom, especially on the local level.

According to another study, iVOX Ukraine, the young people of Ukraine do not seem to use social media for political reasons. They are rather more attracted by multimedia opportunities – down- and uploading, exchanging and viewing photos, video- and music files. And the age group above 45 prefer using social media for the exchange of information about professional and business issues.

Without any doubt, there is a great need for capacity building about how to use social media to increase democracy and transparency in order to make a difference. I see it as particularly important to support professional journalists that are in great need of finding new channels to express their opinions, as official and unofficial censorship tightens each day under the rule of Yanukovich.