Analyzing the impact of social media on the formation of public opinion and trust in information in contemporary journalism in Kyrgyzstan
Jiang Lin, Aina Duishekeeva, Ruoxi Wang, Tongtong Liu, Fangxin Hu · Review of Communication · 2025
This study’s relevance stems from the increasing influence of social networks on public opinion and trust in journalism in Kyrgyzstan, which is further complicated by information overload and the spread of fake news on these key platforms for sharing news and opinions. The purpose of this study is to analyze social networks’ impact on forming public opinion and changing attitudes toward information disseminated on and off the Internet. During the research, the methods of analysis and historical methods, deduction and induction, were used. This study integrates trends from various areas of public life in Kyrgyzstan, such as social and political activism, religion, and public life, to conclude the impact of social networks on the formation of public opinion among the country’s citizens. Additionally, it addresses the issue of fostering trust in information in modern journalism, both regional and foreign, marking a new research direction of scientific and practical significance. The study concludes that social networks are crucial in shaping Kyrgyzstan’s information landscape, competing with official and prostate media. The results of this study can be used by researchers and practitioners in the fields of media, political institutions, journalism, public opinion actors, and activist movements.