This article explores the language of conflict-generating discourse in socially important contexts using the methods of complex linguo-stylistic and communicative analysis, elements of content and intent analysis, conceptual and discourse analysis, etc. The characteristics of contemporary online texts, in a broad sense, were identified. Their differences from media texts were outlined. The shifting roles of the author and audience, verbal functions, and the writer’s pragmatic intentions and communication strategies on the internet were revealed. Five key characteristics of this new form of online discourse, involving either direct or indirect interaction between the communicators (explicit dialogization), were singled out. The study is based on a number of public Telegram channels that focus on burning socio-political issues, each catering to diverse audiences, fulfilling different communication tasks, and reflecting the distinct objectives of their authors. Two speech strategies typical of socio-political discourse – discreditation and mitigation, which are opposite in their pragmatic aims – were examined. Their manifestations in the modern, potentially conflict-generating online space were demonstrated. Particular attention was given to the tactical implementation of these strategies and how it depends on the author’s stance and personal qualities. The speech examples under study were taken from previous works and provided here for illustration purposes only. The conclusion was made about the interrelation between the speech strategies and tactics used by the authors of Telegram channels and their social status, content focus, and gender. The results obtained are relevant for understanding how individuals express their identity online, as well as for increasing the safety of online interaction, promoting the principles of language ecology, and preventing excessive radicalization in the online environment.