HOW SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCES MOTIVATION AND WILLINGNESS TO COMMUNICATE IN ENGLISH AMONG UZBEK YOUTH

Social media's explosive growth has changed how people learn languages, especially in contexts where English is a foreign language (EFL). This study investigates how Uzbek youth's motivation and willingness to communicate (WTC) in English are affected by social media. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study looks at how students interact with websites like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and assesses how this affects students' self-esteem, anxiety, and communication style. According to the results, social media greatly increases learners' motivation and reduces psychological barriers to speaking, which increases their willingness to communicate in English. The study emphasizes how crucial it is to incorporate informal digital environments into formal language instruction.