The Impact of Social Media on Linguistic Practices and Cultural Norms

Dr. Safaa Mohamed Siddig Hag Hamed

doi:10.33193/JALHSS.95.2023.898

Dr. Safaa Mohamed Siddig Hag Hamed Assistant Professor, English Language and Translation Department, Faculty of Arts, Taibah University, KSA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33193/JALHSS.95.2023.898

الكلمات المفتاحية: Social media; Linguistics; Language attitudes; Online communities; Cultural norms

الملخص

This study aimed to analyze the impact of social media on linguistic practices and cultural norms. The objectives were to examine the linguistic features found on social media, influence on language evolution, impacts on language ideologies and community norms, effects on sociocultural practices, and role in empowering marginalized voices. A quantitative survey was conducted with 69 regular WhatsApp users using a 14-item Likert scale questionnaire distributed online. Descriptive statistics analyzed the response patterns. Previous research highlighted linguistic conventions emerging on social media platforms, such as hashtags. Studies also explored how words and memes diffuse across platforms and how communication styles can vary. Research further examined the impacts on linguistic diversity and convergence with the consensus that shared practices cultivate tight-knit online groups. The findings corroborated social media's diverse sociolinguistic influences and added a new perspective while illuminating broad consensus. Recommendations included integrating emerging online forms into education, considering language changes facilitated by platforms and reviewing policies that impede diversity. It also suggested training on digital sociolinguistics to guide navigating online language issues and recognizing social media's role in contemporary youth language use. Overall, the study advanced the understanding of social media's complex relationship with language use, attitudes and sociocultural dynamics. The insights shed light on technology's transformative impacts and implications for communication, language evolution, policies, education, and linguistic diversity.

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