Semantic Shift in Social Media X Discourse: A Corpus-Based Study of Viral Terminology
Abstract
The rapid development of social media has accelerated the dynamics of semantic shift in digital linguistic practices, positioning language not merely as a tool for communication but also as a space for negotiating emotions, identity, and social values. The use of viral terminology on platform X (Twitter) demonstrates that lexical meanings undergo transformation reflecting shifts in collective consciousness, particularly in relation to mental health, workplace relations, and urban lifestyles. This study aims to examine how such semantic shifts are constructed and negotiated within the Indonesian digital social context. Employing a qualitative approach with a digital case study design, data were collected through non-participatory observation of public posts containing selected viral terms over the past two years, accompanied by documentation of usage contexts and collocational patterns. The analysis adopted a reflexive thematic approach to identify recurring meaning patterns within the discourse. The findings reveal three primary dynamics: viral terms functioning as a medium of emotional catharsis, dialogic negotiation of meaning within digital public spaces, and collocational shifts contributing to the formation of new identities and value orientations. These findings affirm that semantic shift in social media discourse is affective, interactional, and ideological in nature. Theoretically, this study enriches the integration of usage-based approaches and discursive pragmatics, while practically contributing to digital literacy development, critical language curriculum design, and the understanding of contemporary digital generational dynamics.
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