Changes in Indonesian Students' Linguistic Identity in the Use of Code-Mixing in Instagram Captions: A Digital Sociolinguistic Study

Abstract

Instagram has emerged as a dynamic platform for self-expression among Indonesian college students, where linguistic creativity is prominently displayed through the use of code mixing in captions. This study explores the patterns and sociolinguistic functions of code mixing as part of students’ linguistic identity construction in digital spaces. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, the research draws data from 30 public Instagram captions selected purposively based on specific criteria, including the presence of Indonesian and English code mixing, authorship by student users, recency of upload, and account accessibility. The captions were analyzed using Muysken’s (2000) typology of code mixing, namely insertion, alternation, and congruent lexicalization while their functions were interpreted through a sociolinguistic lens focusing on identity expression, emotional resonance, aesthetics, solidarity, and communicative efficiency. Findings indicate that alternation is the most prevalent form of code mixing (50%), followed by insertion (36.7%) and congruent lexicalization (13.3%). Students employ code mixing not only to enhance communicative clarity but also as a stylistic and symbolic act of positioning themselves within both local and global cultural frames. English is often used to convey prestige, cosmopolitanism, and creative expression, while Indonesian retains its role in grounding personal authenticity and cultural belonging. These patterns suggest that social media platforms like Instagram serve not merely as communication tools but as performative arenas where young users actively construct and negotiate their linguistic identities. The study underscores the evolving role of digital media in shaping bilingual expression and highlights code mixing as a deliberate linguistic strategy in the formation of hybrid digital personas.