THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON LANGUAGE CHANGE AND COMMUNICATION

Аннотация

The rapid growth of social media has significantly influenced the way people communicate and use language in their daily lives. Digital platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, and WhatsApp have created new spaces for interaction, leading to the emergence of innovative linguistic forms and communication practices. This article examines the impact of social media on language change and communication, focusing on the development of internet slang, abbreviations, emojis, memes, and multilingual communication. It also explores how users, particularly young people, adapt language to express identity, emotions, and social relationships in online environments. The study highlights that social media accelerates linguistic innovation by encouraging creativity, brevity, and rapid information exchange. New words and expressions spread quickly across digital communities and often become part of everyday language. Furthermore, the increasing use of code-switching and multilingual communication reflects the global and interconnected nature of online interactions. While these developments enrich communication and foster linguistic diversity, concerns remain regarding their potential effects on formal writing, language standards, and interpersonal communication skills