SEMANTIC SHIFTS IN STEAM VOCABULARY THROUGH DIGITAL COMMUNICATION CHANNELS

The rapid development of digital communication channels has significantly influenced the evolution of vocabulary in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). Terms once confined to specialized academic or professional domains are now widely used in everyday digital discourse, often undergoing semantic shifts such as broadening, metaphorization, and functional recontextualization. This article explores how digital platforms—social media, online forums, collaborative tools, and educational technologies—facilitate semantic change in STEAM vocabulary. Through qualitative analysis of selected terms, the study identifies major patterns of semantic shift and discusses their implications for academic communication, digital literacy, and language education.