Language Transformation in Social Media and Its Impact on the Linguistic Identity of Indonesian Youth

Abstract

The rapid growth of social media in the past decade has accelerated the transformation of linguistic practices among Indonesian youth. This paper examines how language change (slang lexicon, abbreviation, orthographic play, code-switching), stylistic practice, and identity indexicality take place across platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and X. Anchored in sociolinguistic frameworks—particularly the principles of identity as an interactional construct (Bucholtz & Hall, 2005, pp. 586–590) and the 'third wave' approach to variation focusing on social meaning and style (Eckert, 2012, pp. 87–93)—this study integrates a selective literature review with illustrative secondary data. Findings highlight three key points. First, mediatization fosters vernacularization and limited destandardization in the digital sphere, marked by acronymization (e.g., *japri, gercep, bucin*), English borrowings (*vibe, bestie*), and graphic play (mixed capitalization, emoji) functioning as markers of intimacy and contemporaneity. Second, these linguistic features serve as stylistic indexes to project personae (trendy, casual, humorous, in-group), strengthening peer solidarity while producing intergenerational contrasts. Third, the impact on Standard Indonesian is ambivalent: on the one hand, it enriches the linguistic repertoire and digital literacy; on the other, it may blur formal norms if not mediated through language awareness. Recommendations emphasize contextualized digital literacy and politeness pedagogy (domain-based register use), the integration of authentic social media examples into teaching materials, and further corpus-based research on the circulation of viral terms across platforms and regions.

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