^Slay^ in the Digital Wild: Tracing Malaysian and Indonesian Youth Expressions on X via PhantomBuster
Hishamudin Isam1*, N. Lia Marliana2

1*School of Language, Civilization & Philosophy, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia (Corresponding Author)
2 Fakultas Bahasa dan Seni, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

As digital culture reshapes everyday language, slang expressions like ^slay^ have become embedded in the communicative practices of youth on social media platforms, reflecting dynamic shifts in meaning across cultural and linguistic boundaries. In the Cambridge English Dictionary, ^slay^ is defined with three core meanings: to kill violently, to impress greatly, and to disappoint. While the term is widely used online, most existing studies tend to focus on content analysis or linguistic trends without elaborating on the technical process of data collection, particularly the application of web scraping tools. Addressing this gap, the present study utilizes Phantom Buster connected to Platform X^s API to extract a dataset of 131,229 entries from Malaysia and 192,991 entries from Indonesia that include the hashtag ^slay.^ The data were analyzed thematically and interpreted through Stewart^s theory of semantic prosody to examine how the term^s meaning is adapted in digital contexts. The findings reveal that Malaysian youth often use ^slay^ with irony, sarcasm, and humor, frequently indicating frustration or perceived inauthenticity, aligning with the third dictionary meaning. In contrast, Indonesian youth predominantly use the term in an affirmative and empowering manner, expressing admiration and personal excellence, corresponding to the second meaning. The violent literal sense rarely appears, though it occasionally emerges metaphorically through hyperbole or playful exaggeration. This study not only sheds light on the evolving semantics of digital slang but also contributes to broader discussions on youth identity, cultural expression, and methodological approaches to large-scale social media discourse analysis.

Keywords: Digital Slang, Social Media Platform X, Malaysian and Indonesian Youth, Web Scraping, Cultural Meaning-Making

Topic: AI in Language, Literature and Arts Education