THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON CONTEMPORARY UZBEK VOCABULARY

Аннотация

In the modern world, there is hardly any sphere untouched by the influence of social media. Communication, like other aspects of life, has been significantly reshaped by digital technologies. As Aitchison (1992) notes, “There can never be a moment of standstill in language, just as little as ceaseless thought of men.” Language has always evolved due to a variety of factors, including wars, migration, trade with other cultures, and media such as television and newspapers. However, the emergence of social media platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, Instagram, and TikTok has globally transformed both communication and linguistic patterns. This article examines the role of social media in contemporary Uzbek vocabulary, focusing on both positive and negative influences. It aims to identify clear lexical changes brought by social media, explore the reasons for these changes, and analyze how language users react to them in both oral and written contexts. Keywords: digital communication, social media, emoji, memes, network density, Uzbek vocabulary.