From Digital Networks to Real-World Journeys: How Chinese Migrants Navigate Informal Pathways to the U.S.

• In Event: 20862 - Section on International Migration Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 3: Migration and Legal Status

Abstract

The advent of the internet and social media has transformed migration studies by expanding the focus beyond strong-tie networks. However, online social networks are still largely considered supplementary to strong-tie networks due to concerns about misinformation and reliability. The surge of undocumented Chinese migrants to the United States following the COVID-19 pandemic—many of whom lack strong-tie networks and rely solely on information from social media—provides a valuable opportunity to examine the independent role of online social networks in shaping migration aspirations and capabilities. By analyzing 1,202 messages from Telegram groups through online ethnography and conducting 10 qualitative interviews, this study argues that online social networks can serve as independent sources of information and support for migrants, even in the absence of strong-tie networks in destination countries. Through crowdsourcing, migrants collectively share real-time updates on migration routes, logistical support, safety precautions, and legal advice, enabling more reliable and decentralized access to crucial information. The interactive nature of online platforms, such as large Telegram group chats, facilitates collective fact-checking, which helps mitigate misinformation and enhance the credibility of shared knowledge. Additionally, these digital spaces dismantle barriers to migration knowledge that were previously controlled by intermediaries, lowering the threshold for migration and reshaping the traditional role of migration facilitators.

Author

• Chen Zhang, University of Notre Dame