Language Change in Social Media and Its Impact on the Linguistic Identity of Indonesia's Younger Generation: A Sociolinguistic Study

Authors

  • M. Ridha Ajam Khairun University
  • Mujahid Taha National Research and Innovation Agency of Republic Indonesia (BRIN)
  • Andi Sumar-Karman Khairun University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1703.10

Keywords:

sociolinguistics, social media, adolescent identity, code-mixing, language change

Abstract

Current communication patterns in Indonesia have changed due to the rapid development of digital technology, especially among teenagers. Social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are not only a means of sharing information but also interactive spaces for creating and expressing individual and group identities. Using a qualitative descriptive approach and literature review, this study aims to analyze the types of language transformation in social media and their impact on the linguistic identity of Indonesian teenagers. Data was collected from several digital platforms, and the analysis revealed that digital communication fosters the emergence of new linguistic forms, such as slang, acronyms, code-mixing, and abbreviations. Therefore, a balanced approach in language policy and education is necessary to support innovation and the maintenance of linguistic and cultural diversity in the digital age.

Author Biographies

M. Ridha Ajam, Khairun University

English Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences

Andi Sumar-Karman, Khairun University

Social Anthropology Study Program

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2026-05-01

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