The Digital Dynamics of Language Vitality: Exploring Child‐Algorithm Interactions on YouTube and Language Shift in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

ABSTRACT What is the role of children's interactions with YouTube's recommendation algorithm in language socialization, and could these interactions influence children's linguistic practices in such a way as to cause language shift? Our paper takes a mixed methodological approach to explore interactions between Kyrgyz families and YouTube, examining the reciprocal relationships between online content recommendations, offline linguistic behavior, and on/offline discourses. First, using ethnographic data, we investigate the belief that YouTube is causing language shift and the effect of this discourse on children's linguistic practices and language ideologies. Then we analyze results from an algorithmic audit of YouTube, demonstrating the proportion of Russian content presented to children. We argue that pressures from children's sociolinguistic environments cause them to prefer Russian, but children's preference for Russian is reinforced by material provided to them through YouTube's algorithm. Interactions with algorithms are language socializing and must be taken into account in situations of language shift.