Rianne Dekker|Godfríed Engbersen
How social media transform migrant networks and facilitate migration
Erasmus University Rotterdam|Erasmus University Rotterdam
abstract argue social media new communication channels migration networks also actively transform nature networks thereby facilitate migration despite limitations stem digital divide lower trustworthiness virtual ties qualitative data reveal four relevant ways social media facilitate international migration first enhance possibilities maintaining strong ties family friends second address weak ties relevant organizing process migration integration third establish new infrastructure consisting latent ties fourth offer rich source insider knowledge migration discrete unofficial makes potential migrants streetwise undertaking migration based empirical findings conclude social media transforming migration networks thereby lowering threshold migration