Analysis of Code-Mixing Usage in Teen Interactions on Instagram

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the mixed forms of code used by adolescents in their interactions on Instagram and to identify the factors that encourage this phenomenon. This study is grounded in the increasing role of social media as a communication platform that fosters the emergence of new language variations, particularly code-mixing. Instagram, a popular platform among teenagers, provides communication tools that support flexible language use. This research employed a qualitative descriptive approach, with data collected through observation of adolescent interactions on Instagram. The analysis focused on identifying types of code-mixing, including lexical insertions, phrasal structures, and morphological adaptations, as well as examining the social, cultural, and technological factors influencing this phenomenon. Findings indicate that code-mixing is dominated by the insertion of English vocabulary or phrases into Indonesian, often adapted with Indonesian affixes. Key factors driving this practice include the role of social media as a language dissemination tool, exposure to popular culture, cross-cultural interactions online, social environments, and the construction of linguistic identity. This phenomenon functions not only as a means of communication but also as a marker of identity, creativity, and social group affiliation. Although this phenomenon enriches linguistic diversity, raising awareness is essential to preserve the proper and formal usage of Indonesian