This study investigated how Arab youth in Basrah, Iraq, used code-switching on social media and how this practice influenced their identity construction. The research employed a mixed-methods approach and collected data from 150 students aged 18-25 and 10 experienced teachers through questionnaires and interviews. We used a recorder to conduct the interview. The findings revealed that code-switching was a widespread behavior among Arab youth, with over half of the participants reporting that they mixed Arabic and English often or very frequently in their online communication. The results indicated that young people did not code-switch to appear modern or Western; instead, approximately 63% of students reported that they mixed languages to create a sense of belonging with their peers and social groups. The study found that gender did not significantly affect code-switching practices, while age played an important role, as younger students aged 18-22 code-switched more frequently than older students aged 23-25. Interestingly, students with intermediate English proficiency used code-switching more than advanced students. Both students and teachers confirmed that mixing languages helped Arab youth express emotions, humor, and creativity more effectively. The study concluded that code-switching served as a powerful identity tool that allowed young Arabs to connect their cultural heritage with global online culture. The findings had important implications for EFL teachers and curriculum designers, suggesting that code-switching should be viewed as a natural communicative practice rather than a language deficiency. The study recommended that future research should include larger samples, different age groups, and participants from other Arab countries to gain a deeper understanding of this linguistic phenomenon.
