<![CDATA[Internet slang has become a common part of young people's everyday communication through social media and online messaging. Its rapid development has raised concerns about whether informal digital expressions are weakening standard language or instead becoming part of a new form of linguistic development. This study aims to explore how young people understand and experience the use of internet slang and how they perceive its relationship with language change. A qualitative approach using phenomenology is applied to understand the meanings attached to slang in participants' everyday digital communication. The planned participants are 10–15 university students aged 18–24 years who actively use social media and regularly encounter or use internet slang. Data are collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and non-participant digital observation, then examined using thematic analysis. The findings are organized into three main themes: internet slang as a way of creating social belonging, slang as a form of self-expression and linguistic creativity, and the tension between language change and the preservation of formal language. The findings suggest that participants do not view slang in a completely positive or negative way. Instead, their perceptions depend on social relationships, communication contexts, and the purpose of language use. The study contributes to a sociolinguistic understanding of digital language by showing how language change is connected to identity, social interaction, and technology. Practically, the findings suggest that language education and digital literacy should emphasize contextual language use rather than treating internet slang simply as incorrect language, while further research can explore these changes across broader communities and over longer periods.]]>
