Versatility of social networking sites in meeting the acculturation needs of migrant populations between 2019 and 2023

Abstract

With the growing number of individuals seeking to improve their living conditions abroad, social networking sites are becoming indispensable to their daily existence for acculturation. However, the nature of the contribution of social networking sites in fulfilling migrants’ acculturation needs remains unclear and inadequately addressed in literature. This scoping review aims to synthesise the current literature examining the role of social networking sites in meeting migrants’ acculturation needs. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Methodological Guidelines and the most recent modifications to the PRISMA-ScR framework, this study synthesised 48 empirical articles published between 2019 and 2023. An automated search was conducted using multiple database platforms (Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar and ABDC’s Journal Ranking) with sorted results using a variety of search term combinations. The synthesis of the past studies found five common acculturation needs, namely, the cognitive, social integration, personal integration, affective and tension release needs that migrants have sought and obtained from social networking sites. All of these needs are included in the uses and gratifications theory as media consumption needs. Among the identified needs, social integration and cognitive ones are the most crucial for international students, migrant workers, immigrants, refugees and other categories of migrants to overcome the difficulties that they face in the host society and to maintain connections with the ethnic community. Nevertheless, the utilisation of social networking sites to fulfil those needs differs because of various socio-demographic and psychological determinants. Many of the studies focused on identifying needs associated with integration, thus neglecting those associated with other acculturation strategies, such as separation, marginalisation and assimilation. Mismatches and inconsistencies in the acculturation requirements that migrants obtain or seek from social network sites have also not been investigated in empirical studies. Therefore, this area is potentially viable and is likely to be the subject of subsequent research. The results of the current study are useful for formulating government policies and for recruiting agencies, rights activists, social workers and administrators who are working for migrant populations.