THE USE OF LANGUAGE AND THE IMPACTS OF USING SOSIAL MEDIA ON YOUTH SOCIAL INTERACTIONS

Abstract

Technological advances that are developing very rapidly have an influence on human life. This condition is also found among the students of Business English Communication Program. They frequently use WhatsApp, TikTok, and Instagram. The problem in this study is how students use language to build good interactions on social media and the impacts of using such social media on their social interactions. The research method used is a descriptive qualitative research. The subjects in this study were 8 students who were chosen conveniently considering their weekly high frequency in using WhatsApp, TikTok, and Instagram, and their availability. This study used documentation in the forms of the screenshots containing the students’ comments and interview questions with a semi-structured mechanism. The findings of this study are that this study provides a clear picture of how students use language on their social media with the aim of building good social interactions. The frequent language uses were expressing gratitude and joy, informing and expressing sympathy and concern, expressing gratitude, expressing gratitude and enthusiasm, informing and expressing gratitude, informing and expressing gratitude and criticism, and expressing gratitude and appreciation. The impacts it gave to the use of social media are divided into positive and negative, which matters the practical interactions, comfortableness, habit, and health.