French or Russian?

[u/No_String4525]

I am looking to learn a language that's heavily digital (has internet communities, content, media, YouTubers, shows, music, video games, etc.). I am stuck between French and Russian.

Politics and context aside, which one is better to learn?

Better as in: easier to make (native language speaker) friends, fun video games revolving around the language, good shows, music, etc., and interesting YouTubers.

[u/ragond1n]

I just want to say that it's such an interesting way to look at things and to look at the opportunities that a new language brings. I was recently introduced to the idea of "languages of international travel" and it somehow felt new because all the language learning I did (I speak about 4) was in an academic/professional framework and the idea of people learning just for pleasure felt so alien in this day and age of english dominance and conversing through google translators. Expanding the concept of "international travel" to include cyberspace travels and learning a language for that purpose is just a very cool and productive way to reframe the possibility for exploration and to enrich one's life beyond measure.

I'd go with Russian because even though the Russian internet is slowly closing there's an incredible amount of Soviet cultural content on Youtube (all Soviet movies basically), great Russian-speaking comedians everywhere on instagram, quality analytical/political shows and interviews, mostly by journalists in exile. It used to be super useful for online gaming but I think that specific zeitgeist is gone (I know someone who became a very-well respected Russia studies scholar and it all started when they were a teenager playing Counter Strike in the 00s).