A Study on Lexical Change in Social Media and Its Influence on the Language of Generation Z

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Chinese Language, Faculty of Arts, Port Said University, Egypt

Abstract

With the rapid development of social media platforms such as Weibo, WeChat, and Dou yin(tik tok) , significant linguistic changes have emerged, particularly in the lexical domain. Numerous neologisms have appeared, and the meanings of certain existing words have shifted, gradually forming a distinctive online lexicon. This study aims to examine the phenomenon of lexical change in social media and analyze its impact on the structure, expressive patterns, and linguistic norms of Modern Chinese. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach supported by real examples from digital texts.
With the rapid development of information technology, social media has become an indispensable communication platform in people’s daily lives. Generation Z, regarded as the “digital natives” of the internet, has created and disseminated a large number of new words and expressions in the process of using social media. This phenomenon is not only reflected in the increase in vocabulary but also in semantic shifts and cross-linguistic blending. Taking China and Egypt as examples, this paper conducts a comparative analysis of the lexical variation characteristics of Generation Z in the context of social media, exploring its impact on language use, cultural identity, and intergenerational communication. The study finds that although China and Egypt differ in their linguistic backgrounds and social environments, Generation Z in both countries demonstrates common features such as active lexical innovation, simplified expression, and cross-cultural borrowing. This research aims to provide insights into understanding language change in the digital era.

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Journal of the Faculty of Arts
Volume 85, Issue 8
October issue of social sciences
October 2025

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