Lexicon in Self-Harming among Adolescents: A Social Praxis Study of Ideological Dimension from an Eco-Linguistic Perspective
Abstract
This study investigates the lexicon of self-harming among adolescents within the context of Role Player Real Life (RPRL) activities on social media platforms such as Twitter and Telegram. RPRL, a practice in which adolescents assume fictional or anonymized identities, has emerged as a digital space where emotional expression, including self-harming discourse, is normalized and ideologically reinforced. Using an eco-linguistic perspective and the dialectical model of communication proposed by Bang and Døør (1993), the study examines how language functions both as a product and a medium of social praxis, particularly in shaping adolescent behavior and mental health. Data were collected through textual analysis, interviews, and focus group discussions with students from SMAN 1 X Koto, Kabupaten Tanah Datar, Indonesia. The findings reveal a wide range of self-harm-related lexicon, such as “cutting,” “barcode,” and “overdose,”—that serve as communicative tools within these digital communities. Contributing factors include psychological distress, peer influence, and social media dynamics. The study also explores interventions such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), anti-ligature clothing, and self-love campaigns. The results underscore the need for comprehensive mental health strategies that consider the linguistic and ecological contexts of adolescent digital behavior.
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