K pasa bro? Code mixing and multimodal elements in WhatsApp communication in vulnerable and non-vulnerable contexts

This study investigates differences and similarities in the use of English words and multimodal elements in the digital texts of students from vulnerable and non-vulnerable contexts. In addition, differences in the use of textisms between males and females are analysed. For this purpose, a case study was carried out that compared the writing of students in schools areas with social transformation needs (ASTNs) and in schools in areas without social transformation needs (ANSTNs). The sample consisted of 126 students in the third and fourth year of compulsory secondary education, aged 14, 15 and 16. The results show a differentiated behaviour in both contexts. Furthermore, it is observed that, in line with previous literature, females use more textisms in general, as well as lexical-semantic items, although this conclusion is only validated for ANSTNs. These findings reaffirm the need not to generalise adolescents' digital writing, but to consider their specific context, as there are large differences depending on the background.