SOCIAL MEDIA LANGUAGE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON EFL STUDENTS’  ACADEMIC WRITING: A FOCUS ON GEN Z SLANG

Lounis, Imane; Morsli, Ikram; Sebbah, Loubna

الآداب و اللغات
Volume 20, Numéro 1, Pages 44-55
2025-06-30

Social Media Language And Its Influence On Efl Students’ Academic Writing: A Focus On Gen Z Slang

Authors : Lounis Imane . Morsli Ikram . Sebbah Loubna .

Abstract

It is undeniable that social media plays a vital role in young learners’ lives, particularly among Generation Z. It is used not only for accessing information but also for communicating and sharing ideas through various forms of online interaction. This communication heavily relies on writing, a crucial skill that EFL students are expected to master throughout their academic journey. This paper aims to investigate the impact of social media language, specifically as used on Facebook, on EFL students’ academic writing. To this end, three empirical studies conducted in three different geographical contexts were selected, reviewed, compared, and contrasted. The findings suggested a balanced perspective. On the one hand, social media platforms can have a positive impact, as students feel more motivated to express themselves and tend to communicate more frequently in English. On the other hand, negative effects were identified, including difficulties in formal writing, linguistic deficiencies, and potential fossilization, which may hinder the acquisition of accurate language structures. This study concludes that both perspectives should be considered. It highlights the importance of learners’ awareness and responsibility in deciding whether to use social media as a tool to enhance their academic writing or allow it to adversely affect their academic development.