Does Exposure to Social Media Language Influence the Spelling Ability of English Language among Mindanao State University – Sulu Senior High School Students?

SITTI ALVIA MAY TALUDJOG

doi:10.62596/k4f6gz95

Authors

SITTI ALVIA MAY M. TALUDJOG Sulu State College Graduate Studies, Jolo, Sulu Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62596/k4f6gz95

Keywords:

Exposure, Social Media, English Language, Spelling

Abstract

This research explored how exposure to social media language influences the English spelling proficiency of Senior High School students at Mindanao State University – Sulu. A quantitative method utilizing a descriptive-survey design was employed, allowing for numerical data analysis and the identification of patterns through structured data collection. Descriptive research, as defined by Manjunatha (2019), aims to portray specific characteristics or conditions based on collected data. A total of 100 students from the General Academic Strand (GAS) and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand during the academic year 2024–2025 participated in the study. Findings revealed that most participants were within the 17–18 age bracket, with equal representation in gender, academic strands, and grade levels. Respondents noted that social media occasionally influenced their spelling, particularly through the use of abbreviations and informal expressions, while number-letter substitutions were rarely used. Statistical analysis showed no significant variation in this influence across different demographic groups. A weak but notable association was found between social media engagement and cyber slang usage, and a moderate correlation was observed between the use of cyber slang and its reflection in academic writing. The study concludes that although social media exposure has minimal direct effect on students’ spelling, the frequent use of informal language online can impact the formality of academic work. These findings support the Transactional Affordance Theory, which highlights how user characteristics, environmental context, and platform features collectively shape media outcomes.

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