The Influence of Social Media on English Speaking Skills of Young Learners

This study discusses the importance of developing effective speaking skills and the impact of social media on the speech of young learners. It examines the impact of social media use on speaking trends among young learners and its consequences. The research will discuss the positive and negative effects of digital media on vocabulary, pronunciation, fluency, and the use of slang in speech. It will explore the change in the English spoken language, especially among youth. Speaking is one of the most important communicative skills. The importance of perfect, meaningful, and effective communication cannot be ignored. Speaking fine, sophisticated English is essential and significant, the language that uses clear, understandable, and concise words that enable effective, successful, and precise communication. It has a powerful impact on listeners. While slang and abbreviations can be helpful in quick, friendly, and easy communication among youth, excessive use of these can lead to language deterioration. Speaking standard, refined language, and avoiding slang reflects professionalism and a refined personality. It has a wonderful impact on listeners and builds strong relationships. This study aims to investigate the impact of social media on the speaking skills of young learners. A mixed-method approach is used, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Quantitative data is collected by a survey using a self-designed questionnaire (Google Form) consisting of 15 items (both open-ended and closed-ended questions). The sample size was 80 students (males 30% and females 70%) mean age of 15 to 20 years. Qualitative data is generated from interviewing a few of them, and the findings analysis. The findings suggest that 72.5% of students use social media (Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, etc.) for 3-4 hours a day, and about 98% feel that social media helps in learning English. More than 70% believe that it helps in building confidence and easy interaction. Most of them rely on emojis and short sentences with abbreviations in communication. It is recommended that the academic guides advise the students to learn to balance the use of social media and learning from it.