The Use of Code Switching in Responding to “Viral” Status on Instagram

The popularity of Instagram really affects Indonesian people which anyone can share their pictures, videos, or words as status. Some of the status become viral and make thousands of comments come in responding to the viral status. Indonesian people usually switch their language in their communication online and offline. The researcher is interested in analyzing the comments of Indonesian people in responding the viral status on Instagram. The data focuses on comments of two viral scandal status uploaded on Instagram that have code switching. The function of code switching such as lack of facility, lack of register, mood of speaker, to show identity with a group and so on are found in the comments under three kinds of code-switching: tag-switching, intersentential code switching, and intrasentential code switching. This findings indicates that Indonesian people will switch their language to express their minds as well as feelings and make variation in their language.