Когнітивна експансія в умовах інтенсивного розвитку кіберпростору як виклик національній безпеці: досвід України

The article analyzes the features and dangers of cognitive influences on society in modern conditions, emphasizing that cognitive confrontation has become a key element of current and future conflicts. It is proven that cognitive expansion plays a decisive role in shaping a worldview beneficial to the initiating side, which acquires special political significance in the context of global competition between states. It is established that the process of cognitive expansion is complex and encompasses coordinated actions in various spheres, primarily in education, using mental, figurative, and linguistic influences. The study shows that in modern conditions hybrid cognitive expansion is carried out through social networks, the blogosphere, mass literature, media production and advertising, as well as through the transformation of scientific theories and educational programs with the aim of deliberately changing the views and beliefs of the population. The article is the first to consider cognitive expansion as a hybrid phenomenon in a temporal dimension. With the introduction of self-isolation measures, numerous online services for learning and development emerged, which strengthened both unintentional and targeted instruments of influence. The COVID-19 pandemic is analyzed, which significantly transformed geopolitical relations and increased societies’ vulnerability to external information interference actively used by states for political purposes. A significant part of life activities shifted to cyberspace, which had a particularly noticeable impact on education: it is proven that e-learning is effective only as a supplement within blended models, whereas during the pandemic information platforms became the main source of knowledge. Directions for further research on hybrid cognitive expansion in various spheres of society are proposed. Given the rapid development of information technologies and political struggles for control over the information space, the issue of education remains the most relevant. It is emphasized that hybrid cognitive expansion is one of the key factors of state and national security.