The use of regional languages among the younger generation is considered to be declining, particularly Acehnese, which is now increasingly spoken both in everyday conversation and in the digital space. This situation has caught the attention of Najla Nur Salsabila, also known as Jia, the Favorite Language Ambassador for Aceh Province for 2025.
Jia stated that although many young people still understand Acehnese, its use is declining in some environments due to feelings of shame and changing habits.
"Many people still understand Acehnese, but it's becoming less common, especially on social media or in formal settings," she said.
However, she sees hope among the younger generation who are starting to promote Acehnese through creative content, music, and other digital works.
"There are still young people promoting Acehnese through content and creative works. This is a positive thing that must continue to be supported," she said.
According to Jia, the threat to the survival of the Acehnese language is quite serious if it is not immediately preserved. He emphasized that the language will only survive if it continues to be used in everyday life.
"If it is used less and less, it could eventually become extinct. And if a language is lost, it's not just words that are lost, but also values, stories, and cultural identity," Jia emphasized in Banda Aceh on Friday, May 15, 2026.
He explained that the main factor in the decline in Acehnese language use stems from family and social habits, where the younger generation often uses Indonesian or a foreign language in their daily activities.
"Many people are not accustomed to using Acehnese at home from a young age, so they lack confidence when using it," he said.
Furthermore, social media and the education sector are also considered to be accelerating language shift. The majority of digital content and learning processes now use Indonesian or a foreign language, making regional languages increasingly rare.
"In schools and on social media, the dominant language used is not the regional language, so young people are more accustomed to languages that are considered common," Jia added.
The beautiful girl also highlighted the long-term impact of the continued abandonment of the Acehnese language. Jia believes that the loss of regional languages means the loss of part of Aceh's identity and cultural heritage.
"If the next generation no longer understands the Acehnese language, then our identity and cultural heritage will also fade," she said.
As a preservation effort, the Language Ambassadors continue to educate through language campaigns, or krida, both in person and through social media. These activities take the form of competitions, games, digital content, podcasts, and collaborations with arts and cultural communities.
"The goal is to make regional languages feel closer and more relevant to the younger generation," she added.
The most effective way to revive interest among the younger generation, according to Jia, is to present regional languages in creative spaces such as TikTok, music, short films, and other social media platforms.
"If regional languages are made closer, cooler, and more relatable to the lives of young people, they will be more interested in using them," she said.
Concluding her message, Jia urged the younger generation of Aceh not to forget their regional languages as part of their identity and regional pride.
"Acehnese is not something old-fashioned. It's part of our identity. We can learn many languages, but we must not forget the language that carries the stories and heritage of our homeland," he concluded.[]