The Influence of Social Media on Changes in Sentence Structure and Word Choice in Urban Youth Language
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62872/war9xj93Keywords:
social media, sentence structure, word choice, urban teenagers, digital languageAbstract
This study explores the influence of social media on sentence structure and word choice among urban teenagers in Indonesia. In an era where digital communication dominates youth interaction, platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and WhatsApp have reshaped how language is used, perceived, and evolved. Using a qualitative descriptive approach grounded in sociolinguistics and discourse analysis, this research analyzes digital texts, observes linguistic behavior across social platforms, and conducts semi-structured interviews with teenagers aged 13–19. The findings reveal a consistent use of elliptical and fragmented sentence structures, along with the widespread adoption of slang, abbreviations, code-mixing, and emoji-based expressions. These features function not only as linguistic shortcuts but also as markers of social identity and cultural belonging. Interestingly, while informal language dominates digital contexts, participants demonstrate awareness of appropriate register shifts in formal situations. This study concludes that social media fosters linguistic innovation and adaptation rather than degradation, emphasizing the dynamic, context-sensitive nature of youth language in the digital age.
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