YOUTH LANGUAGE AND SLANG IN DIGITAL COMMUNICATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55640/Keywords:
youth language; digital communication; slang; social media platforms; sociolinguistics; online discourse; language variation; identity construction; pragmatic functions; language change.Abstract
This article examines the characteristics and functions of youth language and slang in digital communication on social media platforms. With the rapid expansion of online interaction, young people have developed innovative linguistic practices that reflect identity construction, group belonging, creativity, and sociocultural change. The study explores how slang, abbreviations, emojis, memes, and code-switching are used by youth on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), and messaging applications. Drawing on sociolinguistic and pragmatic frameworks, the article analyzes the communicative purposes of these non-standard language forms, including self-expression, humor, solidarity, and efficiency. The findings suggest that youth digital slang is not merely a deviation from standard language norms but a dynamic and systematic mode of communication shaped by technological affordances and social contexts. Understanding youth language in digital spaces is therefore essential for interpreting contemporary communication patterns and reassessing traditional views of language change in the digital age.
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