Paper abstract:

This paper will examine the impact of social media on society in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has been independent for 30 years. In that time the media landscape dramatically changed, with traditional media (e.g., newspapers, television, radio) now supplemented by online media such as blogs, websites, social networks. Kazakhstan is a leader among the Central Asian countries and the Commonwealth of Independent States in the level of Internet capability. As an Emerging area of concern for developing countries such as Kazakhstan, new media research mainly includes two categories: the history of development of Internet and new media including social media in Kazakhstan, and the role of social media in Kazakh society. This study discusses research that explores the impact of new media, especially social media, on society.The discussion will revolve around the capacity of social media-based sources of information to effectively inform and engage local communities. The discussion will also explore how the emergence of social media may be influencing professional standards and practices in Kazakhstan.