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Representation of the Altaian tribal identity in the virtual social network “VKontakte”
Tengis S., Yabyshtaev, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Senior Lecturer, Gorno-Altai State University, Gorno-Altaisk, Russia, teng7891@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9200-5954
Summary
Based on the information collected on the social network “VKontakte”, the representation forms of the Altai people's ancestral identity in the virtual space are examined. The study uses a combination of offline and online participant observation, as well as semi-structured interviews conducted in the Russian and Altai languages with leaders and members of ancestral communities. Through thematic analysis of the materials, key themes have been identified. It has been determined that virtual ancestral identity is actively developing among the southern Altai people, including the local groups of Altai-Kizhi and Telengit, who preserve their ancestral consciousness. The author argues that between 2009 and 2013, the representation of the Altai people's ancestral identity in cyberspace began. It is concluded that ancestral identity on the Internet, as well as in real life, has become an important communicative resource for building family ties. The created virtual ancestral communities have served as repositories of historical and folklore materials. Online clan groups have become a new channel for the actualization of clan customs of exogamy, avunculate, and mutual assistance, as well as discussions among subscribers on the preservation of traditions in modern conditions. The dissemination of clan symbols, such as the clan tamga and banner, and the holding of online kurultais have become a new representation form of the Altai people's clan identity in cyberspace.
Keywords: altaians, seok-clan, tribal identity, representation, virtual clan groups, clan symbols, traditions, Internet kurultai.
© Yabyshtayev T.S., 2026
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Received 13.11.2025
Accepted 02.03.2026
Article is published: 15.06.2026
Funding.
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