Understanding the Role of Social Media on the Road to Social Inclusion: The Case of Syrian Refugees in Belgium

Abstract

A large influx of refugees in several European countries has created challenges at all levels of society, starting with the actors in charge of their integration. During this crisis social media platforms seem to have played a major role in the refugees’ journey and inclusion in their host countries. Based on in-depth interviews with 28 Syrian refugees who settled in Belgium after 2015, this chapter looks at the ways they use social media in the hope of integrating in the host country and overcoming cultural challenges. Social media use has helped them alleviate their social isolation, access information in their native language, and find out about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in their new country.