This study was motivated by the widespread use of Indonesian language that does not conform to standard linguistic rules in Instagram content created by adolescents aged 17–20 years. As a social media platform that emphasizes speed and self-expression, Instagram encourages users to employ slang, nonstandard abbreviations, code-mixing, and various other forms of language deviation. This study aims to analyze the forms of Indonesian language errors found in adolescents’ Instagram content and to identify the factors contributing to these errors. The research employed a descriptive qualitative approach using content analysis. Data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 37 respondents and through an analysis of their language use habits on Instagram. The findings reveal that the most dominant forms of language errors include letter repetition to emphasize emotion (78.3%), nonstandard abbreviations (56.7%), code-mixing between Indonesian and foreign languages (45.9%), and the use of slang (45.9%). The main factors influencing the use of nonstandard language are the desire to appear relaxed and informal (86.5%), the need for fast and practical communication (67.6%), and the influence of peer groups and social media trends. Nevertheless, most respondents are aware that these habits may negatively affect their formal language skills. This study highlights the importance of digital language literacy to help adolescents use Indonesian appropriately according to different communication contexts.
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