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The Effect of Social Media on the Language Use of Teenagers in Makassar

ELS Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities · Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025) · pp. 330–337

DOI
10.34050/els-jish.v8i2.43841
ISSN
2621-0835, 2621-0843
Published
2025-06-04
Publisher
Hasanuddin University
Language
en
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Abstract

The rapid rise of social media has significantly influenced how teenagers in urban areas like Makassar communicate. This study investigates the impact of social media platforms—such as Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp—on teenage language use, focusing on vocabulary, grammar, and communication styles. Employing a mixed-methods approach that includes surveys of 150 teenagers, interviews, and content analysis, the findings reveal that 85% of respondents frequently use internet slang and abbreviations, while 70% incorporate English loanwords in everyday speech. Common expressions like “DM,” “OOTD,” and “LOL” are now part of their daily lexicon, reflecting a shift toward a more globalized and informal linguistic environment. Qualitative analysis shows a trend toward simplified grammar in casual contexts and a growing reliance on emojis and memes for emotional expression. While these developments promote creativity, adaptability, and digital fluency, they also present challenges to formal language proficiency, especially in academic writing. This study concludes that social media acts as a double-edged sword—encouraging innovative language use while potentially weakening formal communication skills. It recommends integrating digital literacy and language awareness into school curricula to help students navigate and balance the demands of both informal and formal language contexts.

Keywords

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Irnawati IrnawatiAffiliation unknown1
Sernita SernitaAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/jish/oai, first harvested 3 Nov 2026, last seen 3 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">The Effect of Social Media on the Language Use of Teenagers in Makassar</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Juwita Yusuf, Marwah</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Syamsinar, Syamsinar</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Simpuruh, Indrayani</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Social media</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Teenagers</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Makassar</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Internet</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Slang language evolution</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">The rapid rise of social media has significantly influenced how teenagers in urban areas like Makassar communicate. This study investigates the impact of social media platforms—such as Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp—on teenage language use, focusing on vocabulary, grammar, and communication styles. Employing a mixed-methods approach that includes surveys of 150 teenagers, interviews, and content analysis, the findings reveal that 85% of respondents frequently use internet slang and abbreviations, while 70% incorporate English loanwords in everyday speech. Common expressions like “DM,” “OOTD,” and “LOL” are now part of their daily lexicon, reflecting a shift toward a more globalized and informal linguistic environment. Qualitative analysis shows a trend toward simplified grammar in casual contexts and a growing reliance on emojis and memes for emotional expression. While these developments promote creativity, adaptability, and digital fluency, they also present challenges to formal language proficiency, especially in academic writing. This study concludes that social media acts as a double-edged sword—encouraging innovative language use while potentially weakening formal communication skills. It recommends integrating digital literacy and language awareness into school curricula to help students navigate and balance the demands of both informal and formal language contexts.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Hasanuddin University</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2025-06-04</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
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	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/jish/article/view/43841</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.34050/els-jish.v8i2.43841</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">ELS Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities; Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): JUNE; 330-337</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2621-0835</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2621-0843</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.34050/els-jish.v8i2</dc:source>
	<dc:language>en</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/jish/article/view/43841/12901</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2025 Marwah Juwita Yusuf, Syamsinar, Indrayani Simpuruh</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0</dc:rights>
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