ARABIC IN SOCIAL MEDIA: A STUDY OF VIRTUAL COMMUNICATION AND DIGITAL IDENTITY

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the patterns of virtual Arabic communication on social media and its relationship with the formation of digital identity. Using a qualitative approach with content analysis, data was collected through non-participatory observation of public content on Twitter and Instagram. The results indicate that the use of non-standard forms of Arabic, such as Arabizi (Romanized Arabic), code-switching, and visual elements, is not merely a deviation from formal norms. Rather, these practices function as an active mechanism for the negotiation of identity — be it cultural, personal, or religious — in the virtual space. These findings affirm that social media acts as a transformative agent that actively drives language evolution, challenging the traditional view of language as a static entity. This study's contribution lies in its ability to fill a gap in the literature by providing a detailed micro-linguistic analysis and integrating it with a theoretical framework of digital identity, providing a strong foundation for future studies in digital sociolinguistics.