Teen Talk: The Language Trends of Today's Youth

Abstract

This study explores how the communicative behavior of teenagers has changed in the digital era, focusing on Indonesian urban youth. Results exhibited an unprecedented rate of innovation whereby the generalization of new terms across more than 50% was achieved within 2-3 weeks. The results point to complicated patterns of "digital code-switching," by which teenagers switch their language strategically across platforms and social contexts. It thus appears that rather than testifying to a breakdown in language, digital communication bears witness to the emergence of complicated new linguistic systems that reflect current communicational needs. In this mixed-method design, the research approach used a quantitative survey across five major Indonesian cities with 100 participants and qualitative interviews with 30 participants to find out how digital platforms shape language development, what sources are important for characterizing modern teen language trends, and how language contextually adjusts.. Dominating the selection of platforms were Instagram (92%), TikTok (88%), and WhatsApp (85%), each serving a different purpose in communication. The results from the statistical test indicated significant geographic differences in preferences for platforms: χ² = 23.45, p < .01, and large differences in online-offline communication patterns: F = 18.32, p < .001. Cultural influences, especially K-pop at 73%, significantly influence language innovation, while the integration of the English language at 65% and other Asian languages at 45% stand for good global connectivity. All these findings extend insights into contemporary patterns of youth communication and carry significant implications for education, family relationships, and the development of digital literacy.