Electronic media have fundamentally transformed the way societies including Arab societies access information, form opinions, and interact with one another. This article analyzes three issues: (1) the transformation of journalistic language accompanying the shift from print to electronic and digital media, with particular emphasis on the dynamics of digital Arabic in social media and online journalism; (2) the role of electronic media, particularly television and social media platforms, in the social life of contemporary Arab society; and (3) the theoretical frameworks relevant to understanding these phenomena. This study employs a descriptive-analytical qualitative method grounded in systematic library research of 21 primary and secondary sources published between 1978 and 2026, analyzed through the lens of Uses and Gratifications Theory and Agenda-Setting Theory. The findings indicate that electronic journalistic language is characterized by conciseness, speed, and interactivity, while in the Arab context specifically, phenomena such as Arabizi (Arabic-Latin transliteration), Arabic-English code-switching, and a shift in dominance from Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha) to colloquial dialects (Ammiyah) have emerged in informal digital communication. Electronic media were further found to exert a dual influence on Arab society: expanding access to information and facilitating social movements including their documented role in Arab Spring coverage while also contributing to the spread of misinformation, digital privacy concerns, and a potential erosion of formal Arabic language competence among younger generations. This article recommends strengthening both media literacy and digital language literacy in the Arab world as a mitigating measure.
Copyrights © 2026