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Abstract

This paper examines the evolving landscape of digital media habits and consumption in Kazakhstan through the combined lenses of media repertoires and social class. The study investigates how media practices are structured across different social strata using a unique, regionally representative 2025 survey of 8,000 respondents. The research methodology relies on quantitative analysis of this large-scale dataset to identify primary news sources and social media usage patterns. Conceptually, the paper integrates the three-level model of the digital divide—encompassing access, usage, and opportunities—with the framework of media repertoires, emphasizing the relational nature of media consumption rather than isolated platform usage. Furthermore, it explores the homology between social class space and the space of media practices, demonstrating that media repertoires are unevenly distributed according to economic capital, age, ethno-linguistic grouping, geographic location (spanning major cities, small towns, and rural villages), and, crucially, cultural capital.

Cultural capital reveals itself as a pivotal structuring force in this landscape, shaping media habits through both the overall volume of an individual's repertoire and the specific practices it either restricts or valorizes. Its impact varies significantly by demographic: among older populations, cultural capital primarily dictates the sheer volume of the media repertoire, whereas for the youth, it drives deep qualitative differences. Notably, as cultural capital increases, it tends to homogenize media practices, mitigating traditional gender and ethno-linguistic gaps. Highly privileged groups exhibit "media omnivorousness" alongside clear patterns of digital distinction, deliberately limiting platforms for short-form video consumption in favor of capital-enhancing, text-oriented content focused on science, economics, politics, and self-development. Conversely, although youth are broadly shifting away from traditional television, certain subgroups are replacing it with a constrained repertoire restricted to mobile-only access, social networks, and short-form video, while access to media innovations—such as Threads, generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT), and premium movie subscriptions—remains unevenly distributed across the social space.

Furthermore, while it is critical to recognize how cultural capital creates nuanced and sophisticated forms of digital distinction, we must not overlook the persistence of foundational divides. Even with high overall internet penetration in Kazakhstan, significant disparities remain in access to high-quality wired connections and the capacity for large-format desktop usage.