IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION AND SLANGING

This study examines how Nigerian youths construct social identity through the use of slang on social media platforms. Drawing on Social Identity Theory, it explores how language choice and creative expression in online communication reflect belonging, individuality, and shared cultural experience. The analysis focuses on English-based, Pidgin-based, and indigenous-based slangs to show how linguistic innovation operates as a marker of youth identity in digital spaces. Findings reveal that slang use among young Nigerians is not merely playful but serves as a powerful tool for self-presentation and group connection. The interaction between Pidgin and English-based slangs demonstrates a fluid linguistic relationship in which both forms blend to create hybrid expressions that mirror the dynamic realities of modern Nigerian youth. Overall, the study highlights that slang functions as a site of identity performance, resistance, and creativity revealing how young Nigerians negotiate local and global influences through language in the digital age