Social networks, migration, xenophobia: what is the discussion like in the region?

It has been almost two decades since the digital world became an essential part of information and communication for billions of people around the world and, despite its ups and downs, social networks are more popular than ever. In this context, the level of control and moderation needed in social networks has become a central part of the debate regarding the problem of misinformation, xenophobia and hate speech. 

Given the discourse surrounding these issues, how are the social network discussions on migration unfolding at the regional level? 

A new study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), "Analysis of Public Opinion on Migration Dynamics in Latin America and the Caribbean", reveals several findings on this issue. 

Prepared by the IDB's Migration Unit, and connected to its new Public Perceptions Laboratory on Migration, the report was presented in January 2024, and is the second in a series that tracks the evolution of public opinion regarding migration in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is based on the monitoring of conversations on X (formerly Twitter) during the first half of 2023, complemented with information from national public opinion surveys. 

The study describes a regional panorama in which it is possible to observe a slight decrease in the volume of discussions on migration issues compared to the same period in the previous year. 

“Security" remains as the most relevant topic associated with the conversations. This could be related to the belief that the arrival of migrant populations "generate an increase in delinquency and criminality", and that this strongly influences the perceptions of host societies. 

However, this perception can be contrasted with the low percentages of foreigners in the national prisons of Latin American countries, and the low levels of actual crime incidence. 

Issues related to "migration policy" and "employment" also appear in the thematic agenda identified by the study, with noticeable nuances: while in the areas of "security and employment" xenophobic sentiments predominate, those related to "migration policy" tended to be more positive. 

"Beyond the particular topics in Latin America and the Caribbean, tweets identified as xenophobic, that is, containing discriminatory language towards the migrant population, accounted for 22% of the total conversation on migration in this period," the IDB study states. 

Although this number still represents the minority within public opinion, xenophobia and stigma can undermine social cohesion and legitimize the exclusion of migrants. The study identified that in 2023 there was an increase in xenophobic responses to institutional tweets. However, the accounts issuing xenophobic tweets remained with a low reach, representing 4% of the accounts in total, and with few followers. 

The IDB study has an interesting second part that analyzes how the increased movement of people migrating during certain periods also affects online conversations. 

For example, the increase in the number of people crossing the Darien between Panama and Colombia had an impact on Panamanian public opinion in X: messages that talk about migratory transit represented 19% of the conversation in the first half of 2023, while in the first half of 2022 it barely exceeded 5%. 

With the recent increase in migration flows and the discourses that may arise from them, it is also important to bring to light the contributions of migrants to the Latin American and Caribbean regions. For example, a recent IOM study found that on average a 1% increase in the number of migrants is linked to an increase in the receiving country's exports of almost $8,000 for each migrant that arrives. 

Online platforms also facilitate misinformation, since they are based on algorithms and interaction parameters that are geared towards monetary gain through "clicks" or interaction times. As the IOM WMR 2022 also stated, this encourages the creation and sharing of sensationalist content. 

For all these reasons, it is urgent to work together with social media platforms and other stakeholders, in the creation of increasingly appropriate verification and accountability structures to combat disinformation and xenophobia.  

It is important to look for information beyond mere words, and rely on studies and data such as those cited here, which show the challenges and benefits of migration in a truthful way. 

We invite you to get to know IOM's Xenophobia Cero initiative, a space where you can find positive content about migrants and share your own to make it viral.