The language of written communication among students of Nigerian tertiary institutions has, over the years, shifted from the learnt, conventional English to a casual, trendy, developing form mostly used by youths and young adults who frequently communicate on social media platforms. In this study, we look at the codes used by these student-users of the social media for communication, the domains of usage and their attitudes towards these codes, among others. With data from one hundred and fi fty students, selected through the random sampling method from three tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom state, it was discovered that more than 90% of students use the social media codes among themselves and in other informal situations including with their lecturers who use these platforms. As rampant and varied that these codes are, the students also use them in their classrooms to take notes, with a negligible few using them on their test and examination papers. In as much as they have usage justifi cations ranging from cheapness, time and energy saving, to solidarity, most of these students are not unaware of the academic implications if these codes are used beyond the informal bounds. Our position is that inasmuch as the social media platform has been able to carve out a linguistic community for its users, who do not seem to retrace their steps as far as usage of these codes is concerned, they should be used within the bounds of the community. Domains like the classroom and even with parents may not help them to be restrictive in their usage. The language of written communication among students of Nigerian tertiary institutions has, over the years, shifted from the learnt, conventional English to a casual, trendy, developing form mostly used by youths and young adults who frequently communicate on social media platforms. , we look at the codes used by these student-users of the social media for communication, the domains of usage and their attitudes towards these codes, among others. With data from one hundred and fi fty students, selected through the random sampling method from three tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom state, it was discovered that more than 90% of students use the social media codes among themselves and in other informal situations including with lecturers who use these platforms. As rampant and varied that these codes are, the students also use them in their classrooms to take notes, with a negligible few using them on their test and examination papers. In as much as they have usage jus tifi cations ranging from cheapness, time and energy saving, to solidarity, most of these students are not unaware of the academic implications if these codes are used beyond the informal bounds. Our position is that in asmuch as the social media platform has been able to carve out a linguistic community for its users, who do not seem to retrace their steps as far as usage of these codes is concerned, they should be used within the bounds of the community. Domains like the classroom and even with parents may not help them to be restrictive in their usage.