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Can TikTok and Instagram improve your Catalan? Young people say yes

A study from the UPF points out that short videos incentivize interest in the language

2 min
Content creators who have received a propulsion grant.
Content creators who have received a Propulsió grant. Instagram
Laura Serra
28/10/2026 - 13:16 h
Unverified translation
  • CAT
  • CAST

BarcelonaA study from Pompeu Fabra University reveals that young people can improve their Catalan thanks to short videos on TikTok and Instagram. The research analyzed the quality of short videos on social networks and surveyed 76 users aged 14 to 25. The result: 8 out of 10 Catalan speakers claim that their Catalan has improved thanks to this content.

According to the young people surveyed, by watching reels, 67% learn idioms, 34% expand their vocabulary, 17% say they improve their grammar, and 14% their pronunciation. 90% of those surveyed follow content creators in Catalan, but they do not publish in Catalan themselves: only 30% publish in Catalan often, and the rest do so less or not at all. The majority are indifferent to the language when they consume content, meaning they do not prioritize Catalan in the topics that interest them.

Why are reels good teachers? According to the researchers, because they combine sound, image, and different types of subtitles, they facilitate the acquisition and assimilation of linguistic knowledge. Furthermore, there is a lot of specific content about the language in informal and real contexts. However, it is also noted that automatic transcription reproduces linguistic errors and Spanishisms.

The UPF study evaluates how social networks can contribute to improving the informal learning of minoritized or minority languages in a context of decline. The researchers Floriane Bardini and Paula Igareda, from the Department of Translation and Language Sciences at UPF, conclude that public institutions should incentivize content creation. It is even recommended that educational centers use these platforms to motivate young people to engage with Catalan, because they connect with the information habits and interests of this age group.

In fact, the Propulsió 2026 grants already exist for the creation of video series in Catalan for social networks. These are 40 grants, endowed with 10,800 euros each, awarded by the Department of Language Policy. Among the recipients, who were announced a month ago, there are names already well-known on social networks, such as Godai Garcia, Nadine Romero, Ania Posada, Norman López, Shalana Rodríguez, and Laura Tapiolas, and projects on diverse topics: industrial design in Barcelona (@martareynes_disseny), typical professions (@aleixcampsf), AI (@senyorfont), or books, language, cooking, photography, nutrition, and so on.

Propulsió project grant recipients, for Catalan content creators

Alex Pérez, @apeuve.apv, with the project 5-star football fields

Gerard Garcia, @gerardgarciaski, with Adrenaline and silence

Marta Reynes, @martareynes_disseny, with Industrial design in Barcelona

Aleix Camps, @aleixcampsf, with Documenting typical Catalan crafts and professions

Lola Dagà, @lolaacuina, with What do you recommend?

Mireia Ibáñez, @cremacatalana.learn, with Living Catalan

Aina Crosas, @_ainacs, with Step by step

Laia Santís, @vidaentrellibres, with Reading expands life!

Galdric Plana, @godaigarcia on YouTube, with Things that grow

Daniel Valls, @danivaiks, with The amateur lap

Nadine Romero and Carla Romero, @nadineromero and @carlaroobeel, with We won't go in

Arnau Font, @senyorfont, with AI project from scratch

Natàlia Prats, @natalia.prats, with Catalanography - Discovering Catalonia by learning photography

Oxana Bonjorn, @curses.singulars, with Unique races

Norman López, @lopeznorman44, with Simracing is not just playing car games

Pau Brunet, @PauBru on YouTube, with Visual and applied mathematics in the digital age

Ariadna Subasic, @arisubasic, with From the lab to the gym: evidence-based nutrition

Gal·la Torres and Marta Trabado, @autenticabcn, with The authentic Barcelona

Arnau Cristóbal, Lara Baqués and Xavier Lapuente Marqués, @larabaquesvalldo, with 10 shelter dinners

Elisabet Anfruns, @bettyanfruns, with From the earth to the plate!

Alex Lopez, @alexgrimax, with Behind the scenes: inside the contemporary Catalan fashion industry

Laia Vellet Narbon, @sinergiclaia, with 21st century Trementinaires

Adrià Vancell and Oriol Segura, @terraendins_, with Deep into the land

David Rodriguez, @daviditsme, with On a route with culture

Shalana Rodríguez, @shalanazz, with Shalana level

Ania Posada, @aniaposada, with The voices of cinema

Laura Pernía and Alba Serra, @taulaperdos_, with Catalan products

Valèria Núñez, @ei.vennus, with Will I know how to look?

Emma Comas, @emmacv, with Stopping to move forward

Clàudia Moles, @claudeplata, with Jewels that carry stories

Miquel Boneta, @k1wy__________, with Nomad tattoo

Jan Sherzad, @4_gatitos._, with Code, resin and duct tape

Àlex Sastre, @quinocelles, with Catalonia, ornithological paradise

Maria Masip, @mariamasip_, with Chasing the 7 Catalan arts across Europe

Albert Xamena, @entrefonesineurones, with Madina Mayurqa to the Kingdom of Mallorca: the conquest of the Balearic Islands

Laura Tapiolas, @lauratapiolas, with Ten stories of today

Naget Ouled-Cheikh, @naget.ouled, with I can't, I have a gig

Alex Rof, @aalexx_roff, with Catalonia first-hand

Daniel Ruiz, @eltitodanito and @laltraciutat, with Barcelona by night

Jordi Albaigès, @el_catalanet, with The origin of our names

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