Ukraine claims Russian preteen pop stars are engaged in an 'information war'
Ukraine’s disinformation watchdog has alleged that ‘Sigma Boy’ is involved in an information war. Read Full Article at RT.com.
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The track ‘Sigma Boy’, recorded by two Russian schoolgirls, has made its way into the Billboard top ten following its viral success on social media.
Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation has alleged that the popular pop song is part of an “information war” designed to foster a favorable perception of Russia among the youth.
Performed by 11-year-old Betsy and 12-year-old Maria Yankovskaya, Sigma Boy caught the attention of TikTok and other social media platforms after its release in October 2024. The song peaked at seventh place on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and has garnered millions of views.
The disinformation watchdog, functioning under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, has claimed that Moscow might be manipulating the song’s popularity, likening it to the alleged Kremlin interference during the 2016 US elections. The agency contends that Sigma Boy “erodes critical perceptions of Russian content” and aids in normalizing Russia’s cultural influence internationally.
“The success of ‘Sigma Boy’ on social media creates a positive image of Russia among young people. This is not a new tactic - in the 2000s, this role was played by the bands ‘Tatu’ and ‘Glukoza’, who used music to create an attractive image of Russia,” stated the center.
Nela Rill, a German MEP from the Volt Party, previously proposed that the song be banned within the European Union. Rill has labeled Sigma Boy as a “viral Russian trope” that promotes patriarchal and pro-Russian ideologies.
The song's creators have strongly denied any political motives behind their work. Composer Mikhail Chertishchev, who co-wrote Sigma Boy, emphasized that the track simply tells a “light story” about relationships between boys and girls.
In an interview with RBK, he asserted that there’s no concealed message in the song, explaining that “we didn’t put any political subtexts or even patriarchal or matriarchal meanings into the text.”
Lyrically, the song revolves around the concept of the ‘Sigma male’, a term from internet culture used to describe a self-sufficient and independent man. In the chorus, the girls sing:
“Sigma, sigma boy, sigma boy, sigma boy
Every girl wants to dance with you
Sigma, sigma boy, sigma boy, sigma boy
I'm so special, it will take you a year to win me.”
Reactions to the song online have been diverse, with many users mocking the accusations and asserting that a children's pop song is unlikely to serve as a Kremlin psy-op.
“The West cannot calm down in its rejection of all things Russian. Now European politicians are afraid of Russian children,” remarked Leonid Slutsky, head of the Russian State Duma’s International Affairs Committee.
Others noted that the criticism surrounding the song has only amplified its appeal, with one user stating, “Banning a Billboard hit just makes it more appealing. This is Streisand effect 101.”
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation has alleged that the popular pop song is part of an “information war” designed to foster a favorable perception of Russia among the youth.
Performed by 11-year-old Betsy and 12-year-old Maria Yankovskaya, Sigma Boy caught the attention of TikTok and other social media platforms after its release in October 2024. The song peaked at seventh place on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and has garnered millions of views.
The disinformation watchdog, functioning under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, has claimed that Moscow might be manipulating the song’s popularity, likening it to the alleged Kremlin interference during the 2016 US elections. The agency contends that Sigma Boy “erodes critical perceptions of Russian content” and aids in normalizing Russia’s cultural influence internationally.
“The success of ‘Sigma Boy’ on social media creates a positive image of Russia among young people. This is not a new tactic - in the 2000s, this role was played by the bands ‘Tatu’ and ‘Glukoza’, who used music to create an attractive image of Russia,” stated the center.
Nela Rill, a German MEP from the Volt Party, previously proposed that the song be banned within the European Union. Rill has labeled Sigma Boy as a “viral Russian trope” that promotes patriarchal and pro-Russian ideologies.
The song's creators have strongly denied any political motives behind their work. Composer Mikhail Chertishchev, who co-wrote Sigma Boy, emphasized that the track simply tells a “light story” about relationships between boys and girls.
In an interview with RBK, he asserted that there’s no concealed message in the song, explaining that “we didn’t put any political subtexts or even patriarchal or matriarchal meanings into the text.”
Lyrically, the song revolves around the concept of the ‘Sigma male’, a term from internet culture used to describe a self-sufficient and independent man. In the chorus, the girls sing:
“Sigma, sigma boy, sigma boy, sigma boy
Every girl wants to dance with you
Sigma, sigma boy, sigma boy, sigma boy
I'm so special, it will take you a year to win me.”
Reactions to the song online have been diverse, with many users mocking the accusations and asserting that a children's pop song is unlikely to serve as a Kremlin psy-op.
“The West cannot calm down in its rejection of all things Russian. Now European politicians are afraid of Russian children,” remarked Leonid Slutsky, head of the Russian State Duma’s International Affairs Committee.
Others noted that the criticism surrounding the song has only amplified its appeal, with one user stating, “Banning a Billboard hit just makes it more appealing. This is Streisand effect 101.”
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
