Forecasting the prospects for the use of the Kazakh language by young people in the new media environment

Abstract

This article presents the results of a sociological study focused on the prospects of using the Kazakh language in the new media environment. The main goal of the research was to identify how actively young people aged 14 to 35 use the Kazakh language in everyday and digital communication, to determine their future language preferences, and to understand their civic attitude toward the native language. A survey of 1000 respondents was conducted as part of the study. The methodology included questionnaire-based surveys, quantitative-statistical analysis, and content analysis of Kazakh-language accounts. The findings show that the majority of young people consider the preservation and development of the Kazakh language to be important. However, in the digital space, Kazakh sometimes struggles to compete with foreign languages. The study revealed the interconnection between language choice, intergenerational continuity, cultural identity, and digital literacy. The results confirm that youth are motivated to promote the Kazakh language, especially when supported by appropriate infrastructure and relevant content. This research contributes valuable insights to language policy, education, and media development strategies.