An Illocutionary Analysis of Public Responses to the Computer-Based Written Examination Cheating in Social Media Discourse X

Abstract

Social media has become a prominent space for public discourse, where users employ language not only to exchange information but also to perform specific communicative actions. The cheating scandal involving the Computer-Based Written Examination, which went viral on platform X in April 2026, generated widespread public responses and provides a relevant context for examining illocutionary acts in digital discourse. This study identifies and analyzes the types of illocutionary speech acts expressed in public comments responding to the scandal, addressing the limited investigation of speech acts in social media discourse. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, the study collected data from comments on a viral post by @linlinaleister on platform X and analyzed them through identification, classification, and interpretation based on Searle’s (1969) theory of illocutionary acts. The findings identified three types of illocutionary acts: assertive (6 instances), expressive (5 instances), and directive (2 instances). Assertive acts predominantly conveyed opinions, expressive acts communicated sympathy, criticism, and curiosity, while directive acts primarily conveyed advice. These findings demonstrate that public responses to sensitive social issues convey communicative intentions beyond information sharing and extend the application of illocutionary act analysis to digital discourse contexts.