The Role of Social Media Platforms like TikTok and Instagram in Informal Language and Cultural Learning
Article Sidebar
-
Keywords: Social Media, Language Learning, Cultural Learning, TikTok, Instagram, Social Media
Abstract
Social media platforms, particularly TikTok and Instagram, have emerged as powerful tools for informal language and cultural learning in recent years. These platforms facilitate real-time, interactive content sharing, creating a dynamic environment for users to engage with various languages and cultures. Despite their growing significance, the academic exploration of their role in informal education remains limited. This research aims to investigate the impact of TikTok and Instagram on language acquisition and cultural understanding among users, particularly focusing on their educational potential. The study employs a qualitative research approach, using content analysis of popular educational videos on both platforms. In-depth interviews with users from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds were also conducted to explore personal experiences and learning outcomes. The findings suggest that TikTok and Instagram significantly contribute to informal language learning, offering learners access to authentic content, native speakers, and cultural expressions. Additionally, the study highlights the role of visual and interactive elements in enhancing comprehension and retention. However, challenges such as the spread of misinformation and limited depth in learning materials were identified as notable concerns. In conclusion, social media platforms, while not substitutes for formal education, serve as valuable supplemental tools for language and cultural learning. Future research should further explore strategies for improving educational content and minimizing potential drawbacks on these platforms.
Full text article
References
Alafnan, M. A. (2025). Cultural and Behavioral Insights into European Social Media Users: Platform Preferences and Personality Types. Studies in Media and Communication, 13(1), 17–30. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.11114/smc.v13i1.7306
Almatroud, L., Choi, S., Libson, K., & Ashack, K. (2025). Beef Tallow-Based Skincare Claims in Social Media: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 24(12). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.70544
Amson, A., Bagnato, M., Remedios, L., Pritchard, M., Sabir, S., Gillis, G., Pauze, E., White, C., Vanderlee, L., Hammond, D., & Potvin-Kent, M. P. (2025). Beyond the screen: Exploring the dynamics of social media influencers, digital food marketing, and gendered influences on adolescent diets. PLOS Digital Health, 4(2). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000729
Baines, S., & Otermans, P. (2025). Co-produce belonging activities with staff and students. In Student Belonging in Action: Practical Case Studies to Foster a Sense of Belonging Across the High. Education Student Journey (pp. 58–65). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003611578-10
Bennett, A. R., & Muniz, F. (2025). Barbie: The Original Brand Activist. In #Barbie and Soc. Media: Digital Discourses and Mattel’s Celebrity Doll (pp. 65–90). Springer Science+Business Media; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-95611-9_4
Berg, M., Alardawi, M., & Al Obeidli, N. (2025). Cultural skimming, authenticity, and streaming preferences: Turkish serials (dizi) among young audiences in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Critical Studies in Television. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1177/17496020251404332
Bossio, D. (2025). Can I See What You Mean By News?: Methodologies for Understanding Young People’s Changing News Identification and Consumption. In Research Methods for Soc. Media Journalism (pp. 125–137). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003568766-13
Casañas, R., Hernández Encuentra, E., Martín, J., Lalueza, F., & Boixadós, M. (2025). Co-Creation and Validation of a Social Media Resource for Mental Health Literacy Among Spanish Adolescents. Health Expectations, 28(5). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70469
Debb, S. M., Gilbert, F. F., O’Dea, L., & Lagbo, V. (2025). College Student Perspectives on Political Polarization: Preliminary Results from Gen Z African Americans in the United States. Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine, 23, 175–186. Scopus.
Hamati, F. J., Chapman, J. A., & Sood, A. (2025). Cracking the Algorithm: How to Ask the Right Questions about Social Media During the Interview. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 72(2), 249–265. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2024.08.003
Holeš, J. (2025). C’est en youtubant que l’on devient youtubeur! Spelling and Words Derived from Social Media Names in the General French Corpus. Verbum (Lithuania), 16. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.15388/Verb.16.08
Jin, D. Y. (2025). Cultural production of Hallyu in the digital platform era: Industry perspectives. In Cult. Prod. Of Hallyu in the digit. Platf. Era: Ind. Perspect. (p. 203). University of Michigan Press; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3998/mpub.14416305
Lang, J., Hong, R., Xu, J., Li, Y., Xu, X., & Zhou, F. (2025). Biting Off More Than You Can Detect: Retrieval-Augmented Multimodal Experts for Short Video Hate Detection. WWW - Proc. ACM Web Conf., 2763–2774. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1145/3696410.3714560
Luebke, S. M., Ozornina, N., Haim, M., & Ha?ler, J. (2025). Climate Communication in the Hybrid Media System: Media and Stakeholder Logics on Social Media. Media and Communication, 13. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.9892
Malli, G., Gutounig, R., & Goldgruber, E. (2025). Behind the newsfeed: Social media journalism and political education for young people. In Media Engagem., Lit., and Dialogue among Eur. Youth: Particip. Res. As a Gatew. (pp. 123–140). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003527169-12
Mantell, J. E., Masvawure, T. B., Gonzalez-Argoti, T., Oga-Omenka, C., Radix, A. E., & Bauman, L. J. (2025). Beyond Numbers: Opportunities and Challenges Using Qualitative Methods in Social Media Studies of PrEP Discourse. American Journal of Health Promotion, 39(4), 692–712. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171251332450e
Mutiarasari, N. A. G., Hartini, S., Sangadji, S. S., & Lina, L. F. (2025). Celebrity Characteristics and Purchase Intentions: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis of YouTube Culinary Content. Journal of Applied Data Sciences, 6(2), 1154–1168. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.47738/jads.v6i2.634
Nanne, A. J. (2025). Creation, Content and Consequences of Visual Brand-related User Generated Content. Tijdschrift voor Communicatiewetenschap, 53(2), 173–193. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.5117/TCW2025.2.005.NANN
Pathuri, M., Reddy, S., Dagher, T., Dwyer, E., Baker, H., Lee, C., Haydon, R., Wolf, J. M., Hynes, K., & Strelzow, J. (2025). Comparative Analysis of Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment Information on Popular Social Media Platforms. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Global Research and Reviews, 9(6). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-24-00335
Pérez, M. C. C., & Ruiz-Cecilia, R. R. (2025). Creativity and social networks in English language learning: A systematic literature review. Onomazein, 2025(Special Issue 16), 208–240. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.7764/onomazein.ne16.10
Rodríguez-Vera, A. D. P., Rando-Cueto, D., Ruiz-Herrería, M., & Heras-Pedrosa, C. (2025). Communication Strategies of Startups During the Natural Catastrophe of the 2024 DANA: Impact on Public Opinion and Business Reputation. Journalism and Media, 6(3). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6030117
Schlicht, E. J. (2025). Characteristics of Political Misinformation over the Past Decade. In Mis/Disinformation and Democratic Society (pp. 93–104). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003617006-6
Starke, C., Metikoš, L., Helberger, N., & de Vreese, C. (2025). Contesting personalized recommender systems: A cross-country analysis of user preferences. Information Communication and Society, 28(1), 41–60. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2024.2363926
Suárez-Gómez, S. A., Velasco-Muñoz, V., Restrepo-Vivas, S., Cabrera-Vargas, L. F., & Torregrosa-Almonacid, L. (2025). Cutting through the noise: Unravelling the web of misinformation in surgical social networks. Educacion Medica, 26(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edumed.2024.100969
Sun, Y., & Zhao, M. (2025). Clothes Image Retrieval via Learnable FashionCLIP. In H. Zhang, X. Li, T. Hao, W. Meng, Z. Wu, & Q. He (Eds.), Commun. Comput. Info. Sci.: Vol. 2181 CCIS (pp. 290–301). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-7001-4_21
Vangelos, R. (2025). CHRONICALLY ONLINE: APPORTIONING LIABILITY IN SOCIAL MEDIA LITIGATION BASED ON USER ENGAGEMENT. Fordham Law Review, 93(5), 1863–1906. Scopus.
Wedel, L., & Mayer, A.-T. (2025). Clustering Journalistic TikTok Videos: An Unsupervised Machine Learning Approach to Visual Content Analysis. In Research Methods for Soc. Media Journalism (pp. 94–110). Taylor and Francis; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003568766-10
