THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL NETWORKS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH PATRIOTISM IN THE ERA OF GLOBALIZATION: EVIDENCE FROM UZBEKISTAN AND COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES

Digital media and social networks have become primary arenas for youth identity formation, exerting both positive and negative influences on the development of patriotism amid globalization. This study investigates how social platforms shape patriotic orientations among Uzbek youth, drawing on social identity theory and digital nationalism frameworks. Through a mixed-methods approach—combining systematic literature review, thematic analysis of policy documents, and secondary empirical data from regional and international studies—the research reveals an ambivalent impact: social media can reinforce national pride through user-generated patriotic content and cultural sharing, yet it often promotes cosmopolitan values, value relativism, misinformation, and cultural homogenization that erode emotional attachment to the homeland. In Uzbekistan, where state policy (e.g., Cabinet Resolution No. 34 of 2026 on patriotic education in continuing education) emphasizes ideological resilience, digital exposure poses challenges such as reduced face-to-face civic engagement and vulnerability to foreign ideological influences. Findings indicate that without targeted media literacy interventions, prolonged social media use correlates with weaker national identity markers, while strategic integration of patriotic themes into digital platforms enhances civic responsibility and “glocal” belonging. The paper proposes a hybrid model for Uzbekistan: leveraging digital tools for patriotic content dissemination while building critical digital competencies. This contributes to Web of Science-aligned discourse in comparative education, youth studies, and digital sociology, offering policy insights for post-Soviet contexts navigating globalization.