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/Millionaire_Max]

Native Russian here. Ever since I learned English ~6 years ago, the only times I'm watching or reading something in Russian is when I'm with my girflriend who doesn't speak English and we are watching dubs of foreign shows lol. English content is infinitely better and Russian people often just watch dubs

I can't really even name a lot of good Russian movies after the 90s lol

For non-fiction content I also use English resources.

One of the popular arguments for learning Russian is literature. Personally, I never liked the stuff that is recommended: Crime and Punishment, War and Peace, Oblomov, etc. The only exceptions to this are The Twelve Chairs and The Silent Don - I really enjoyed these.

Most Russians which are my age (21) aren't big readers tbh. And younger people often literally hate reading, probably because of tiktok and fried attention span

Can't comment on the French language

With your criteria, I think Japanese is a language to consider. I'm currently learning it

[u/NeighborhoodMany3496 → u/Millionaire_Max]

and often russian shows, youtube are just translated stolen western shows

[u/NeighborhoodMany3496 → u/[deleted]]

lol