THE INFLUENCE OF SLANG MEANING CHANGES IN YOUTH LANGUAGE ON TWITTER (X) APP

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of slang on the evolving language patterns of youth on the Twitter (X) platform. As a dynamic social media environment, Twitter fosters rapid communication and creativity, providing fertile ground for the spread and development of informal language. The research explores how slang terms are adopted, adapted, and circulated among young users, and how this usage contributes to broader linguistic shifts in vocabulary, structure, and expression. Using a qualitative content analysis of tweets from selected youth accounts, the study identifies key slang trends and their semantic or pragmatic impacts on communication. The findings reveal that slang not only reflects youth identity and group belonging but also actively shapes digital language practices, signaling a shift toward more fluid and context-driven communication norms. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of digital sociolinguistics and the role of social media in contemporary language change.