Interethnic tension in multiethnic societies is one of the common problems affecting not only socio-political, but also psychological aspects of collective interaction. The article examines the phenomenon of interethnic tension in modern Kazakhstani society through the prism of socio-psychological analysis. The purpose of the study is to identify the main socio-psychological factors influencing the formation of ethnic tension between representatives of different ethnic groups. The scientific significance of the work lies in an integrated approach to understanding interethnic processes, and the practical significance is in finding ways to prevent and correct tension in a multiethnic environment.

The methodology included content analysis, interdisciplinary conceptual-theoretical and systematic analysis on interethnic tension among young people. The results of the study showed that despite the overall high level of ethnosocial stability in the country, regional differences in the level of latent tension persist, especially in the southern regions. New channels for the formation of ethnic distance were also identified, especially among young people in the online environment. The main conclusion is that the existing model of interethnic harmony requires updating and adaptation to the conditions of digitalization, growth of migration flows and strengthening of ethnic mobilization in the information space. The contribution of the work consists in substantiating the need to develop tolerance programs, dialogue and prevention of prejudice in educational and youth policies. The practical significance lies in the possibility of using the obtained data to develop preventive and educational programs in multinational regions of Kazakhstan.