migrants
Definition
Migrants refers to individuals and groups who have relocated across geopolitical boundaries and undergo acculturation—the process of cultural change when different cultural groups come into contact. This population includes refugees, asylum seekers, and international students who experience acculturation through both traditional face-to-face interactions and increasingly through digital technologies such as mobile phones, social media, and internet-connected platforms. Digital technologies have fundamentally transformed migrants' acculturation experiences by enabling near-synchronous contact with their country of origin, access to information about settlement societies, and connection to diaspora communities regardless of physical distance, while simultaneously introducing new risks and opportunities for psychological, sociocultural, and intercultural adaptation.
Sources: Stuart et al. (2025)
Related Terms
Applications
Migrants and Social Media
Migrants use social media in their acculturation processes, which can support psychological adjustment but may also introduce challenges to engagement with the host society. Social media platforms enable migrants to maintain connections and build networks that influence their sense of belonging and integration.
Sources: Stuart et al. (2025)
Migrants and Mobile Phones
Mobile phones function as tools for migrants throughout their migration journeys, enabling social connections while also introducing potential risks related to connectivity and adaptation.
Sources: Stuart et al. (2025)
Migrants and Digital Diaspora
Digital platforms are reshaping acculturation by allowing migrant communities to maintain connections and engage in networks online, which can influence their sense of belonging and integration within their settlement countries.
Sources: Stuart et al. (2025)
