Abstract
The purpose of the research is a comparative study of the use of social networks in the educational and sociocultural context. The comparison criteria include the following indicators: social status (student-teacher), demographic characteristics (gender and age), and sociocultural indicators (the country of residence – Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan). A questionnaire based on closed and open questions was used to collect data. The data were analyzed in SPSS. Various strategies (constructively individualistic and value-normative strategies) were identified for obtaining and using information through social networks that are mediated by ex-isting cultural and social practices. There is a qualitative difference in the use of social networks by teachers and students. Students are primarily attracted by the ability to communicate on social networks. The use of social networks by teach-ers is mediated by their professional activities. The results obtained allow us to build other forms of interaction between the teacher and students A teacher coor-dinates students' independent intellectual activities rather than transmits knowledge; students become not just consumers of educational information, but active participants in the creation of an intellectual product.