The impact of social media on the wellbeing and social integration of migrants from Zimbabwe in South Africa: An introductory literature review

Abstract

Migration is the movement of people from their original habitat to a place outside the border of their country of origin with the main aim of settling in the other country. The motives for this relocation are usually not predetermined and could be voluntary or involuntary, and the wellbeing of migrants is affected during the migration period. Distortion in social cohesion led to struggles in communal integration, harmonious living, language barriers, and access to economic activities by migrants. This manuscript concerns a review of narrative literature on the role of social media in facilitating wellbeing and social integration of migrants. A desktop review methodology was used to review secondary data from databases such as Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and EBSCOhost. Social media are mostly used for entertainment, news, and social interaction. Furthermore, it may assist migrants to connect with their loved ones in their countries of origin, thereby possibly enhancing their wellbeing. It is therefore important to understand the contribution of social media on the wellbeing and social integration of migrants. Findings from the review showed that social media help migrants to decide to make the move to another country and cushion the anxieties associated with the move. Migrants are often assisted through social media to make informed decisions about the host country. It was concluded that social media usage can contribute to social integration, building of a social identity and social networks, and social participation in the real world.