YouTube Algorithm Systematically Demotes Kyrgyz Children's Content in Favor of Russian

A controlled study of nearly 11,000 YouTube search queries reveals the platform's recommendation system treats Russian as the default language for Kyrgyzstan, regardless of user preference. Kyrgyz-language searches for children's content frequently return zero results or Russian alternatives instead. The bias creates a feedback loop favoring Russian creators, potentially accelerating language shift among digital-native children in a region where Kyrgyz speakers number only 4.5 million.