Social media

Abstract This chapter explores social media as a site for applied linguistics research and the methods that are used for such studies. To date, the majority of social media studies have examined platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter/X. Increasingly, however, researchers are also exploring platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Tik Tok, among others. Topics for study include how language is used — including translanguaging — and how users create their cultural and linguistic identities via different platforms and how learners can develop and expand their language and literacy. We outline the different ways data are captured and the various methods used for analysis (e.g., meta-analysis, discourse analysis, ethnographic approaches). We exemplify these, and the different theoretical frameworks used by describing five different studies. We also provide commentary on some of the ethical issues and challenges related to social media research. We conclude by providing suggestions for future research.