THE DIGITAL MAHALLA: SOCIAL MEDIA AS A MECHANISM OF MODERNIZATION AND TRADITIONAL REINFORCEMENT IN UZBEKISTAN
Keywords:
Digital Mahalla; Uzbekistan; Telegram; Social control; Uyat (shame); Digital Islam; Central Asia; Platformization.Abstract
This study investigates the transformative role of social media in Uzbekistan, analyzing how digital platforms function as a virtual extension of the traditional mahalla. Using a mixed-methods approach combining digital ethnography and survey data (N=1,200), we explore how Telegram, Instagram, and YouTube are reshaping economic, religious, and social life. The results indicate that while social media accelerates economic modernization and educational access, it simultaneously reinforces traditional mechanisms of social control (uyat) and religious revivalism. We conclude that the Uzbek digital sphere operates as a "Digital Mahalla," a unique ecosystem where global connectivity is filtered through local cultural imperatives.
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