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| 1 | This article presents a philosophical and ethical investigation of the contemporary patriotic discourse of university students as it manifests in digital environments, particularly on social networks such as VKontakte. The relevance of this research lies in the growing importance of online platforms in shaping civic identity and patriotic attitudes among young people. The primary goal is to explore the structural, thematic, and ethical dimensions of studentgenerated patriotic content and to analyze how it reflects deeper moral engagement or, conversely, rhetorical superficiality. The study is grounded in A.P. Voevodin’s philosophical-ethical framework, which interprets patriotism as a moral phenomenon rooted in collectivism and public good rather than political loyalty. The analysis is further supported by symbolic and semiotic theories from J. Baudrillard, Y.M. Lotman, and R. Posner. The empirical part of the study consists of two stages: content analysis of 2.117 posts from student communities across 18 leading Russian universities using the Avalanche digital monitoring tool, followed by a more detailed ethical evaluation focused on emotional resonance, sociocentric orientation, symbolic depth, and transformative function. The findings reveal that the majority of posts represent a declarative and symbolically superficial form of patriotism, largely lacking moral reflection and communal motivation. Only a small subset of content demonstrated ethical depth, emotional engagement, and a sense of collective mission. The study concludes that fostering ethical reflection and encouraging deeper identification with civic values are crucial for reshaping patriotic education in higher institutions. The proposed analytical framework offers a versatile tool for evaluating the civic and moral potential of digital youth discourse and may inform more effective educational strategies for cultivating responsible patriotism. Keywords: patriotism, university students, digital discourse, philosophical-ethical approach, socio-centrism, civic responsibility, digital environment, moral reflection, volunteerism, identity | 297 | ||||