Template-type: ReDif-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: McGregor, E. 
Author-Name: Siegel, M. 
Author-workplace-name: UNU-MERIT
Title: Social Media and Migration Research
Abstract: The use of internet technologies in daily life has risen dramatically in recent years, increasing researchers interest in how social media such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are changing social realities and potentially facilitating innovative research methodologies. As technology and migration are considered prominent drivers of the globalization processes, the increasing interest of migration researchers isunsurprising. Nevertheless, given the relative youth of research in this field, approaches to the topic differ. By taking a step back and viewing the literature from a wide range of disciplines, this paper provides a broad overview of the current state of research on migration and social media in four key areas 1 the use of social media to trigger and facilitate migration in both positive networks and negative ways human trafficking; 2 the role of social media and migrant integration; 3 the use of social media in diaspora engagement; and 4 the use of social media in conducting migration research. This paper adds to the literature by being the first systematic review of the topic.
Keywords: International Migration, Media, Information and Internet Services, Economic Development, Human Resources, Human Development, Income Distribution, Migration, Technological Change, Diffusion Processes, Technological Innovation 
Classification-JEL: F22, O15, O33, L86, L82, Q55
Series: UNU-MERIT working papers
Creation-Date: 2013
Number: 2013-068
File-URL: https://unu-merit.nl/publications/wppdf/2013/wp2013-068.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 363668
Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2013068