MANIPULATIVE FEATURES OF MASS CULTURE AND MECHANISMS FOR STRENGTHENING YOUTH SPIRITUAL AND MORAL RESILIENCE

Abstract

The rapid expansion of commercial media, digital communication, and consumer-oriented cultural practices has significantly transformed the social and value environment in which young people develop. This article examines the manipulative features of mass culture and the educational and institutional mechanisms that can strengthen young people's spiritual and moral resilience. The study is based on a theoretical synthesis and comparative socio-cultural analysis of scholarly works addressing popular culture, media manipulation, youth spirituality, digital communication, and educational resilience. Particular attention is paid to commercialization, emotional and ideological framing, algorithmic content distribution, cultural commodification, and the passive consumption of digital content. The analysis shows that the negative influence of mass culture cannot be explained solely by the content of media products; it is also shaped by the interaction between communication technologies, social environment, individual characteristics, and the level of media literacy. The study argues that spiritual resilience should not be understood as complete protection from external cultural influence. Rather, it involves the ability to critically evaluate information, preserve personally meaningful value orientations, make autonomous decisions, and participate actively in social life. The findings suggest that effective responses require cooperation among educational institutions, families, cultural organizations, and civil society. Interactive pedagogical methods, media literacy, critical thinking, cultural education, and high-quality digital content are identified as important components of a comprehensive strategy for strengthening youth spiritual and moral resilience.