Alpha Generation Language Style Shift Due to Social Media Interaction (Case Study of Yayasan Atikan Sunda Junior High School Students)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of social media on language style shifts among Generation Alpha (Gen-A), with a focus on junior high school students at Yayasan Atikan Sunda in Bandung. The research employs a qualitative sociolinguistic approach, utilizing participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, and qualitative data collection through speech and visual symbols such as emojis and memes in daily communication. Findings suggest that social media has a significant influence on the use of slang and visual symbols as elements of Generation Alpha's social identity. However, students continue to maintain the Sundanese language as a marker of cultural identity within the school environment, demonstrating linguistic dynamism. The study's originality is evident in its focus on Generation Alpha in junior high school and its integration of slang and visual symbol analysis, which remain underexplored in Indonesian junior high school contexts. These findings provide new insights into the interplay between formal and informal language use and cultural preservation in the digital era.