The Influence of Social Media on Linguistic Evolution among University Students

Abstract

The evolution of the social networking platform, such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Tik Tok, and X, has changed the definition of communication, especially amongst university students who frequently move between digital and academic language ecologies. These new media contribute to the emergence of new linguistic practices that do not comply with traditional norms. The study under consideration examines the impact of social media on the linguistic development of university students, focusing on changes in vocabulary, syntax, and communicative conventions. A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews and real-life social media posts from university students. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify patterns in language usage. The paper has identified some important trends, including the use of internet slang, extensive code-mixing of English and local languages, the heavy use of emojis to convey emotions, and informal syntactic structures. Such habits are an indication of shifting identities and peer group relations. The results indicate that there might be a requirement for the modification of language teaching methodologies, increased digital literacy consciousness, and scholarly guidance on the way to negotiate the official and informal language registers in a more proficient manner.