Authors: Aisha Omran Salem Alghahwash
Abstract: Social media platforms have become influential spaces for informal English language development, offering learners opportunities to engage with authentic input and participate in communication beyond classroom boundaries. This paper examines the pathways through which platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter (X), Facebook, and Reddit contribute to language growth. Drawing on existing research, the study highlights five key pathways: exposure to authentic input, interactive communication, self-expression, peer collaboration, and multimodal engagement. These pathways support the development of vocabulary, fluency, digital literacy, and learner autonomy, while also fostering identity construction and intercultural awareness. At the same time, challenges such as distraction, misinformation, and unequal access due to the digital divide are recognized as barriers that require careful attention. The paper further discusses implications for learners, educators, policymakers, and researchers, emphasizing the need to integrate informal learning with formal instruction, promote critical digital literacy, and ensure equitable access. Overall, the findings suggest that social media, when used strategically, can serve as a powerful complement to formal education and a dynamic tool for English language learning in the 21st century
