Research highlights social media’s influence on migration and refugee narratives
Social media has a big impact on how people think and share opinions. It gives people a place to express both positive and negative views. In 2024, Anna Triandafyllidou and co-author Stein Monteiro released a special issue titled 'Migration Narratives on Social Media: Digital Racism and Subversive Migrant Subjectivities (external link) .' It contributes to ongoing research on social media's role in shaping narratives about migrants and refugees.
The introduction to the special issue provides a conceptual framework of how narratives function in public communication, with a particular focus on social media's influence. The special issue features six research articles.
Anna Triandafyllidou is Toronto Metropolitan University’s Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Migration and Integration and the Bridging Divides Scientific Director. Stein Monteiro is a Research Affiliate at CERC Migration and Integration and the Lead Research Associate in the Immigration Knowledge Area for the Conference Board of Canada.
The special issue explores the growing influence of digital media platforms such as Twitter/X and TikTok on public discourse surrounding migration and mobility. Aligned with the research priorities of CERC Migration and the Bridging Divides program, the issue examines how these platforms not only shape narratives about migrants and refugees but also serve as vital spaces where immigrants share their values, beliefs, and experiences. “The special issue highlights both the propagation of digital racism and other toxic language, but also the ways migrants use social media to construct their identities and counter dominant discourses,” shares Monteiro.
Social media amplifies both supportive and hostile voices, influencing public opinion. In the issue, Monteiro and Triandafyllidou reference Bindi Shah, who has analyzed Twitter data to explore how non-elite users—those whose posts rarely go viral—engage in migration-related discussions. Her findings reveal deeply polarized attitudes and the formation of echo chambers that reinforce existing beliefs rather than challenge them.
Social media doesn't just reflect what society thinks; it helps shape those ideas. The studies examined in this special issue show that platforms like Twitter/X are not only spaces for conversation but are active sites of narrative formation in the ongoing debate about migration and belonging.
June 30 is World Social Media Day: a timely opportunity to recognize the importance of equipping all users, including students, with the critical skills needed to navigate these influential platforms. For students, who often rely on social media to stay connected, integrate into new cultural contexts, and share their experiences, media literacy is not just beneficial; it is essential.
Post-secondary institutions can strengthen media literacy by integrating critical engagement with digital content into their curricula. This could involve teaching students to evaluate the reliability of the information they encounter online, recognize biases and polarizing debates, and the broader impact of the content. For those who create content, it also means understanding the responsibilities and real-world consequences of their work. The research featured in this special issue could serve as case studies or illustrative examples of how social media influences public discourse, through the content that is shared and the audiences interacting with it.