Beyond LOL and OMG: Slang, Acronyms, and Confidence in Selected EFL Learners’ Social Media Communication

Mohammad Rizal Ramadhani; Ana  Maghfiroh; Elok Putri Nimasari; Khozaeni Bin   Rahmad

doi:10.31849/88g05580

Authors

Mohammad Rizal Ramadhani Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo, Ponorogo, Indonesia.
Ana Maghfiroh Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo, Ponorogo, Indonesia.
Elok Putri Nimasari Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo, Ponorogo, Indonesia
Khozaeni Bin Rahmad Permai Penang Learning Centre, Penang, Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31849/88g05580

Keywords:

Digital discourse, English as a foreign language (EFL) , Informal digital learning of English, Language practices, Social media communication

Abstract

English development in the digital age increasingly unfolds within the dynamic, multimodal spaces of social media rather than exclusively in formal classrooms. Yet, empirical evidence detailing how specific digital linguistic features influence adolescent learners in non-Western EFL contexts remains limited. Addressing this gap, this study investigates how Indonesian senior high school students adopt and integrate informal English expressions such as slang, acronyms, abbreviations, and hashtags from social media into their communicative practices. Using a mixed-methods descriptive design, data were collected from 66 students through a structured questionnaire, open-ended items, and semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal four key patterns: (1) frequent and habitual use of English across digital platforms; (2) significantly increased confidence supported by low-pressure, asynchronous interaction; (3) systematic and purposeful adoption of informal linguistic features for expressiveness and social alignment; and (4) cross-contextual migration of digital expressions into offline communication accompanied by register awareness. These results indicate that social media operates as a parallel linguistic ecosystem that fosters communicative agency, pragmatic flexibility, and identity construction rather than linguistic deterioration. The study’s originality lies in its empirical focus on concrete digital linguistic forms within a secondary school EFL context in Indonesia, a setting underrepresented in prior scholarship. By reframing informal digital language as an adaptive communicative resource, this research contributes to discussions on informal digital learning of English and offers pedagogical implications for integrating students’ digital repertoires into context-sensitive English language teaching in the broader global EFL landscape.

Author Biographies

Mohammad Rizal Ramadhani, Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo, Ponorogo, Indonesia.

Mohammad Rizal Ramadhani is an emerging scholar in the Department of English Education, Faculty of Teacher Education and Training, Muhammadiyah University of Ponorogo, Indonesia. His academic interests focus on English as a Foreign Language learning, digital literacy, and the influence of social media on contemporary language practices. His research examines how informal digital environments shape adolescents’ English use, linguistic creativity, and communication patterns in online spaces. He is particularly interested in how social media platforms contribute to learners’ confidence, identity formation, and the adoption of informal English expressions beyond the traditional classroom
Ana Maghfiroh , Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo, Ponorogo, Indonesia.

Ana Maghfiroh is an Associate Professor in the English Education Department, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo, Indonesia, where she has been teaching since 2010. She earned her master’s degree in English Language Education from Ahmad Dahlan University and completed her doctoral degree at Yogyakarta State University. Her scholarly work focuses on English Language Teaching, ICT-based learning, and character education. Her research interests include Teaching English as a Foreign Language, the integration of digital technology in ELT, teacher professional development, character education, and education for sustainability.
Elok Putri Nimasari, Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo, Ponorogo, Indonesia

Elok Putri Nimasari holds a doctorate in English and Literature Education and is an Associate Professor at Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo, Indonesia. Her research adopts social science perspectives on language, with particular expertise in discourse analysis, pragmatics, and semiotic approaches to communication. She has published widely in the fields of applied linguistics, English language teaching, and higher education, including studies on ESP needs analysis, digital learning environments, and language assessment.
Khozaeni Bin Rahmad , Permai Penang Learning Centre, Penang, Malaysia.

Khozaeni Bin Rahmad is an educator and community leader based in Penang, Malaysia. He serves as the Vice President (Naib Pengurus) of the Indonesian Community Organization (PERMAI) Penang and as an Advisor to the PERMAI Penang Humanitarian Guard. His professional interests include English language education, community based learning, and cross cultural communication in multicultural societies. He actively contributes to educational and humanitarian initiatives that support Indonesian communities abroad, particularly in language development and community empowerment.

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