OFFSTONE JUNE EDITION 2024

48 Jamalullail notes that the beauty of the Malay language, which is inspired by the wisdom with which it is spoken, is a defining characteristic of the Malay race. According to Prof. Dato’ Awang Had Salleh in the Laporan Jawatankuasa Mengkaji Penggunaan Bahasa Malaysia, the Malay language is the mother tongue of Malays, signifying that regardless of location, Malays will always belong to their mother tongue. The Malaysian Federal Constitution, in Article 152, designates Malay as the national language and mandates its use in official matters across all areas. In the digital age, however, this beautiful language is threatened by the pervasive 'digital culture' of social media. Social media can be defined as platforms or channels used for online communication, interaction, and content sharing. Scholars Kaplan and Haenlein define social media as a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0 and enable the creation and sharing of user-generated content. Today, social media plays a significant role in the lives of the youth, offering numerous benefits such as ease of information sharing and acquisition. In essence, all web-based applications facilitating the creation or sharing of user-generated content and interaction between users fall under the category of social media, including platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, blogs, internet forums, and online community sites. The advent of the digital era has impacted the use of the Malay language. Language also influences the choice of social media platforms favored by different cultures, suggesting that social media use is culturally influenced. The digital age presents both positive and negative effects on the Malay language. Many technological systems today are designed in English, elevating the importance of English over the national language. According to a report in Berita Harian , technological advancements often come at the expense of the Malay language. The report highlights that there is no legal framework to regulate the misuse of language on social media. Consequently, people often use abbreviations, short forms, and altered spellings to appear trendy. Former Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid has noted that the younger generation is highly influenced by the language styles prevalent in public media, including social media, television, newspapers, and other platforms. This trend is concerning to elders as it suggests that the younger generation is increasingly influenced by the evolving language culture on social media. Case Study This study examined the language proficiency of young adults aged 18 to 25 who speak Malay, with a specific focus on their use of the language on social media. The study identified numerous language errors, particularly among college students, to investigate their use of Malay and identify primary communication obstacles. The research, conducted at two