LOCAL TRADITIONS AND NETWORKED CULTURAL FLOWS IN UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

This article examines the processes shaping mass consciousness and gender
ethics in Uzbekistan, using Karakalpakstan as a case study in the context of digital
transformation. Particular attention is paid to the role of Instagram as a visual and symbolic
space in which new models of social status, self perception, and patterns of behavior are
constructed. The study analyzes the impact of cultural flows originating from Tashkent,
Kazakhstan, and the global English language information environment. The theoretical
framework is based on an interpretation of digital platforms as mechanisms for the production
of cultural hegemony. The article concludes by emphasizing the need to develop local strategies
of digital media literacy, to strengthen cultural resilience, and to support positive forms of
identity.