A STUDY OF SOCIAL MEDIA LANGUAGE PRACTICES AMONG MULTILINGUAL NIGERIAN YOUTHS

Abstract

This study applies Computer-Mediated Communication Theory (CMCT) by Joseph Walther 1992 and Social Identity Theory (Tajfel and Turner 1979) to examine how young people in Nigeria construct and negotiate language practices within social media environments. Data were collected through systematic observation of online interactions across platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok. Findings reveal that youths employ multimodal strategies such as abbreviations, acronyms, emojis, hashtags, code-switching, and visual resources (images and videos) to facilitate communication. Within the CMDT framework, these practices are understood as discourse choices shaped by the affordances and constraints of social media platforms. The study highlights how Nigerian youths creatively exploit these technological and linguistic resources to assert identity, foster group belonging, and navigate multilingual interaction in digital spaces. Ultimately, this research underscores the dynamic interplay between platform-specific features, cultural context, and discourse practices, offering insights into the evolving nature of computer-mediated communication.