An Analysis of Gen Z’s Digital Slang: Patterns from TikTok Comment Sections
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24256/ideas.v12i2.5911Keywords:
ords: Digital Slang, Gen Z, TikTok, Linguistic Innovation, Social Media CommunicationAbstract
The digital communication landscape has undergone a profound transformation, with social media platforms like TikTok emerging as critical sites for linguistic innovation. This research examines the intricate mechanisms of digital slang generation among Generation Z, exploring the complex interplay between technological architecture, user creativity, and sociocultural dynamics. Employing a qualitative content analysis approach, the study investigates linguistic practices within TikTok comment sections, focusing on slang formation mechanisms, algorithmic dissemination, and cultural identity functions. The research reveals sophisticated linguistic strategies including zeroidation, diphthongization, lexical shifts, and code-mixing, demonstrating how Gen Z actively reconstructs communication paradigms. The platform's algorithmic recommendation system facilitates unprecedented rapid language evolution, with slang terms transitioning from marginal usage to widespread adoption within hours. Digital slang serves multifaceted purposes: creating humor, signaling contemporaneity, facilitating social relations, and establishing intimate group identities. The study highlights the tension between linguistic innovation and preservation, suggesting that digital platforms are not passive mediums but active agents in linguistic transformation. By providing a nuanced sociolinguistic lens, the research contributes crucial insights into how digital technologies reshape communicative landscapes and generational identity construction in the 21st century.
Keywords: Digital Slang, Gen Z, TikTok, Linguistic Innovation, Social Media Communication
References
Ador, Zohail I. 2019. "The Discourse of Gen Z in Social Media Network: Inputs to English Language Teaching."
Alifah Arde Ajeng Hamidah, Sinta Rosalina, and Slamet Triyadi. 2023. "A Sociolinguistic Study of Slang Varieties on Tiktok Social Media during the Covid-19 Pandemic and Its Utilization as a Slang Dictionary." Onoma Journal: Education, Language, and Literature 9 (1): 61–68. https://doi.org/10.30605/onoma.v9i1.2029.
Ana Dahniar, and Rr. Sulistyawati. 2023. "Analysis of Code Mixing on the Kesel Aje Podcast Tiktok and Its Impact on the Existence of Millennial Children's Language: A Sociolinguistic Study." ENGGANG: Journal of Education, Language, Literature, Arts, and Culture 3 (2): 55–65. https://doi.org/10.37304/enggang.v3i2.8988.
Asari, Andi, Efa Syaifuddin, Nurfitria Ningsi, Sudianto, Hana Maria, Iwan Adhicandra, Rini Nur'aini, et al. 2023. DIGITAL COMMUNICATION.
Ayu, Lathifah, and Sigit Haryanto. 2020. "Slang Semantic Analysis on TikTok Social Media Generation Z."
Bu, Yanida, Boy Damai Zega, Sepi Putra, Kasih Lase, and Osisio Buulolo. 2024. "RETORIKA: Journal of Language Science: The Influence of Technology on the Development of Indonesian Language among Youth: A Case Study of Language Use in Short Messages and Social Media," 483–90.
Budiasa, I, Weddha Savitri, and A.A.Sg Dewi. 2021. "The Use of Slang on Social Media." Humanist 25 (May):192. https://doi.org/10.24843/JH.2021.v25.i02.p08.
Elena, Shalevska. 2023. "THE GEN Z INTERNET SLANG AND EFL SPEAKERS: THE CASE OF N." I (I): 179–92. https://doi.org/10.20544/HORIZONS.1.1.23.P16.
Espinada, Shafira Auliyaa, Ashanti Widyana, and Didin Samsudin. 2024. The Use of Neologism and Trending Habits among Generation Z in Korea. Atlantis Press International B.V. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-376-4.
Faradhillah, N. (2024). Enforcing Religious Moderation Among Generation Z Muslims in the Digital Era Through Critical. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 12(2), 2332-2349.
Ismayanti, D., Said, Y. R., Usman, N., & Nur, M. I. (2024). The Students Ability in Translating Newspaper Headlines into English: A Case Study. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 12(1), 108-131.
Ikhsan, F., F. A. Muizunzila, and N. R. Marzuky. 2024. "The Influence of Social Media on Social Relationship Patterns in the Digital Era." Journal of Educational and Language Motivation 2 (1): 30–34.
July, Ana. 2024. "Comparison Of Slang In Millennials And Gen Z: A Semantic Analysis In The Context Of Linguistic Learning" 2 (3).
Kandiawan, Aprilia Bernike, and Sanata. 2023. "CODE-SWITCHING AND SLANG USED BY GEN Z INDONESIANS ON SOCIAL MEDIA." 7 (1): 47–55.
Kostadinovska-Stojchevska, Bisera, and Elena Shalevska. 2022. "The Skull Emoji (?) In Gen-z Internet Slang: A Study of Its Use as Tone Tag and Punctuation," 124–30.
Mujayyidah, Firda, Cahyo Hasanudin, and Iib Marzuki. 2023. "Proceedings of the National Seminar on the Analysis of Language Variety in TikTok Social Media: The Field of Sociolinguistics." Proceedings of the National Seminar on the Results of Research, Service, and Dissemination 1.
Masruddin, M., Amir, F., Langaji, A., & Rusdiansyah, R. (2023). Conceptualizing linguistic politeness in light of age. International Journal of Society, Culture & Language, 11(3), 41-55.
Masruddin, Hartina, S., Arifin, M. A., & Langaji, A. (2024). Flipped learning: facilitating student engagement through repeated instruction and direct feedback. Cogent Education, 11(1), 2412500.
Muzani, Atifah Wan Mohd. 2024. "Human Sciences EISSN: [0127-7871] Morphological Neologisms: The Emergence of Social Media Slang on TikTok."
Nasiri, Mohammadreza, Rahele Karimian, Bentol-hoda Khabazan, and Mahdi Mohammadi. 2024. "Characteristics of Doctoral Students: A Systematic Review Based on Kitchinham and Charters" 14 (1). https://doi.org/10.22067/infosci.2024.86520.1194.
Paola, Valery, Varela González, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, Universidad Hispanoamericana, and Costa Rica. 2022. "SOCIAL MEDIA AS A HINDRANCE TO THE WRITING SKILLS OF ENGLISH LEARNERS," 12055–69.
Peredy, Zoltán. 2024. "ANALYSING GENERATION Z COMMUNICATION ATTITUDES, VALUES, AND NORMS." https://doi.org/10.47273/AP.2024.30.4-19.
Rininggayuh, Enggal, Intan Ayu, Septika Dewi, Laely Ngaenatul, and Wardah Isnaeni. 2024. "The Effectiveness of TikTok as a Media for Enhancing English Speaking Skills: A Systematic Literature Review," 18. https://doi.org/10.30595/pssh.v18i.1237.
Sakitri, Galih. 2021. "Welcome Gen Z, the Driver of Innovation." Prasetiya Mulya Management Forum 35 (2): 1–10.
Simanjuntak, Christian, Fitriani Lubis, Destrina Sinambela, Elisabet Br Siagian, Enda Chafiana, Riris Rahmadini, Annisa Najla, and Rezkiandi Ritonga. 2024. "The Influence of Slang Use on Adolescent Cultural Identity: A Case Study in Medan City" 8:21263–68.
Sundary, Leny, and Fauzah Fauzah. 2024a. "Welcome Gen Z, the Innovation Driver." Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research 4 (3): 11295–303. https://doi.org/10.31004/innovative.v4i3.11633.
———. 2024b. "An Analysis Study of Indonesian Development in the Digital Era." Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research 4 (3): 11295–303. https://doi.org/10.31004/innovative.v4i3.11633.
Wang, Li. 2024. "Investigating Translanguaging Strategies and Online Self-Presentation through Internet Slang on Douyin (Chinese TikTok)." Applied Linguistics Review, 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1515/applirev-2023-0094.
Yultisa, Nudia, Rakhmat Wahyudin Sagala, and Tri Indah Rezeki. 2024. "LINGUISTIC SHIFT AMONG GEN Z IN INSTAGRAM-BASED COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION" 12 (3): 959–70.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Susana Hamu Eti, Yanti Rosalinah
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under an Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See the Effect of Open Access)
