The purpose of the article is studying of youth opinion about the role of the media in their lives, in the life of society, in the development of modern culture. The presented research results are part of the study «Russians Students about the Folk Culture», conducted by the Russian Society of Sociologists in 2022. In the theoretical part, the media are revealed as a dynamically developing element of public space, closely related to the phenomenon of matrix culture. It concludes about the plurality of media, some of which are outside of legal regulation. The practical part contains data confirming that young people recognize the significant role of the media in shaping culture, lifestyle, and ideas about the state and people. At the same time, it was noted that young people recognize the risks that accompany the work of the media: the bias or dependence of journalists, the spread of profanity, and the promotion of violence.