<![CDATA[This study investigates the influence of social media utilization as an informal learning source on the digital business English communication competence of Business English Communication (BEC) students at Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM). Framed within the paradigm of Informal Digital Learning of English (IDLE) and online informal language learning (OILL), this descriptive correlational study employed a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire administered to 82 active BEC students across multiple academic cohorts. The instrument comprised 10 items measuring social media-based informal learning behaviors (Variable X) and 10 items assessing digital business English communication competence (Variable Y). Pearson correlation and simple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship and predictive contribution of the independent variable. Results revealed a positive and statistically significant correlation between social media utilization as an informal learning source and digital business English communication competence (r = 0.582, p < 0.001). Regression analysis yielded a model of Y = 12.725 + 0.523X (R² = 0.339, p < 0.001), indicating that informal social media learning accounts for 33.9% of the variance in students’ communication competence. TikTok emerged as the most frequently utilized platform (51.2%), followed by Instagram (30.5%) and YouTube (13.4%). These findings confirm that social media constitutes a meaningful informal learning ecosystem for Business English development and carry implications for curriculum integration in BEC programs.]]>
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