The influence of social media on the development of the Indonesian language in the era of globalization plays a highly significant role. Social media has become a massive and popular communication platform in today’s digital age. Through social media, users can interact with others from various backgrounds and geographical locations. This creates diverse communication and opens opportunities for the development of the Indonesian language (Cahyadi et al., 2024).

One of the main impacts of social media on the development of Indonesian is the emergence of language variations. In social media environments, users often use slang, new terms, abbreviations, and a more relaxed and informal style of language (Juditha, 2019). This reflects the need to communicate quickly and efficiently in a fast-paced and dynamic online world. Communication on social media is also often not bound by strict grammatical rules, leading to changes in the style and usage of the Indonesian language.

However, social media also brings positive impacts. Through social media, Indonesian can serve as a means to promote culture and national identity at a global level (Mokhtar et al., 2019). It allows users to share information about Indonesian culture, traditions, and linguistic richness with the international community. Indonesian can also be used as a tool to interact with people from various countries, thereby expanding its usage and understanding.

In addition, social media provides broader accessibility for people to learn and develop the Indonesian language. Many Indonesian-language contents are shared, including tutorials, educational videos, and learning materials. This enables individuals from diverse backgrounds and locations to learn Indonesian more easily and flexibly. Social media also serves as a place to practice communication in Indonesian through interaction with other users (Batubara et al., 2021).

However, to maintain the quality of Indonesian in the era of social media, it is important to pay attention to proper and context-appropriate usage. Learning and understanding correct grammar remain essential to prevent the degradation of language quality (Zulkarnaen et al., 2019). The government, educational institutions, and Indonesian language communities must work together to promote proper language use and raise awareness of the importance of preserving Indonesian without ignoring social media developments (Febrian & Masyitoh, 2019).

Overall, the influence of social media on the development of Indonesian in the globalization era is very significant. Although it introduces new language variations and changes in usage, social media also opens opportunities to promote culture and national identity and expand access to learning Indonesian. By maintaining proper language use, Indonesian can continue to develop as an effective communication tool in the digital world (Amaly & Armiah, 2021).

One important aspect is the variation of language that arises due to social media use. Social media provides a broad platform for communication not only within social circles but also with people from different countries and cultures. This interaction significantly influences language development in the context of social media (Jannah et al., 2023).

In social media environments, users often use informal language, abbreviations, new terms, emojis, and similar elements to communicate quickly and concisely. The language tends to be more relaxed, simple, and not bound by formal grammar rules. For example, users frequently use abbreviations such as “wkwk” (laughter), “kzl” (annoyed), or “yg” (which/that). Emojis are also widely used to express emotions and convey messages visually (Ardhianti, 2019).

These informal forms lead to the creation of new language variations not found in traditional Indonesian dictionaries. Social media users often create new words and phrases, such as “kepo” (curious), which has become widely used in everyday conversations. However, this also raises concerns about the degradation of language quality. Some argue that informal language use on social media may negatively affect formal language skills, reducing linguistic complexity and proper grammatical understanding (Soleha et al., 2023).

Nevertheless, these new variations also bring benefits. Creative and innovative language use encourages diversity and flexibility, enriches vocabulary, expands expressive abilities, and supports creativity. Language is a living entity that continuously evolves, and social media provides a broad space for its development in the digital era (Agustiin et al., 2023).

It is important for society and stakeholders to facilitate proper understanding of Indonesian usage on social media. Efforts such as preserving vocabulary richness, educating about correct grammar, and maintaining awareness of linguistic diversity can help sustain the quality and communicative function of Indonesian in the digital era.

Author:
Nadia Ramadhani

Editor and Reviewer:
Muhammad Husein Fadhlillah

References:

Agustiin, S. N., Puspitasari, S. A., & ... (2023). MANFAAT MEDIA SOSIAL INSTAGRAM SEBAGAI WADAH PROMOSI PADA YUUSTORIES FLORIST DI KARAWANG. Marketgram …. https://e-journal.naureendigition.com/index.php/mj/article/view/559 Amaly, N., & Armiah, A. (2021). Peran Kompetensi Literasi Digital Terhadap Konten Hoaks dalam Media Sosial. Alhadharah: Jurnal Ilmu Dakwah. https://jurnal.uin-antasari.ac.id/index.php/alhadharah/article/view/6019

Ardhianti, M. (2019). Metafora dalam Teks Berita Hoaks di Media Sosial: Studi Semantik Kognitif. Jurnal Sastra Aksara. http://194.59.165.171/index.php/aksara/article/view/9