THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE USE OF ‘SLANG WORDS’ AMONG ALPHA GENERATION

Abstract

The rapid development of social media can influence the way of communicating, especially for the Alpha generation who were born and grew up in a fairly sophisticated digital era. This research aims to examine the influence of social media on the use of "slang words" among the alpha generation. This research uses a qualitative approach with phenomenological methods. This research explores the role of social media in facilitating the adoption and spread of slang among the alpha generation. The Diffusion of Innovation Theory by Everett Rogers and the Social Learning theory by Albert Bandura are used as theoretical foundations to explain the process of slang adoption. This research found that social media functions as the main channel for the spread of slang, starting from the knowledge stage to the confirmation stage. The alpha generation often adopts slang they encounter on social media, assessing its suitability for the new communication style, which they then implement in their daily lives. This research shows that social media not only influences the way of communication, but also influences the acceleration of language development, creates space for linguistic creativity, and shapes digital identity. However, the accelerated development of slang language creates challenges for the use of standard or formal language. This research concludes that social media has a crucial role in the evolution of language in the alpha generation, making social media platforms dynamic for language development in a short and innovative time.