Digital Agency and the Preservation of the Banggai Language Among the Younger Generation in Banggai City

Regional languages are essential components of cultural identity, serving not only as means of communication but also as vehicles for transmitting values, knowledge, and local wisdom across generations. Banggai, spoken in Banggai Laut Regency, has shown signs of declining use among younger generations in family and educational settings. Meanwhile, digital technology offers new opportunities for regional language use and dissemination. This study examines the forms, functions, and factors influencing Banggai language maintenance among young people in Banggai City through the perspective of digital agency, which views youth as active and creative users of digital technology. This qualitative case study involved 29 respondents who completed open-ended questionnaires and three informants who participated in in-depth interviews. Participants aged 15–30 years were purposively selected. Data were analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña, with source and methodological triangulation. The findings show that 19 respondents use Banggai on social media, primarily in informal conversations with fellow speakers. However, none reported producing Banggai-language content or collaborating on content creation, while digital resources, such as dictionaries, were rarely used. Digital spaces help maintain language use and strengthen linguistic identity and pride, although their contribution to broader language use, learning, and intergenerational transmission remains largely potential. Key supporting factors include preservation motivation and family and school support. Major barriers include limited language use in families and communities, the influence of Indonesian and other languages, restricted vocabulary, social stigma, and scarce digital content and learning resources. Limited device and internet access were not reported as barriers. This study refines digital agency by distinguishing language-use agency from content-production and collaborative agency, highlighting the need for youth-driven digital resources supported by families, schools, and local governments.