Social media can influence multiple linguistic levels of language use, but lexis is particularly sensitive and easily shaped by social contexts. This systematic literature review (SLR) synthesises studies on the formation, usage, and linguistic features of Malaysian Standard English (MSE) borrowed words in social media. 13 journal articles published between 2016 and 2025 were selected from Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS) based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. From an initial 437 results, only 13 met all criteria. The review shows that borrowing, semantic change, and nativisation are the main formation processes, while usage varies across social media platforms (SMP), helping to construct Malaysian identity and express solidarity among Malaysian social media users. Key linguistic features include American English (AmE) influence, code-switching, translanguaging, morpho-syntactic patterns, and discourse particles. Overall, the findings suggest that social media plays a significant role in lexical innovation in MSE, offering useful insights for media practitioners and research specialising in sociolinguistics, media linguistics, and digital anthropology.

Keywords: formation; lexical borrowing; linguistic features; social media; usage

DOI: http://doi.org/10.17576/3L-2026-3202-15

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