Diaspora and Social Media

Diaspora and Social Media

By Jason O'Neill

Image from: www.TechTimes.com

The term diaspora literally means dispersal and was originally used to describe the dispersal of Jewish people that started in 722 B.C (Ma Mung, 2005). Since then diaspora has been used to describe the migration of people from their country of origin (central pole) to their host country (secondary pole).

As these people migrate from their country of origin they are put in an unfamiliar and foreign place, to make this space a place they construct their own diasporic identities. These are maintained through narrative, myth, community memorialising that map journeys from one place to another in history (Kuttainen, 2015). Usually the migrants form small social groups as they feel more familiar with one another. This social organisation is essentially based on communalism (Ma Mung, 2005) enabling the diaspora to distinguish itself from its host state.

As they have this desire to return back to their ancestral homeland they stay connected to the people residing in their homelands. These connections being the exchange of money, information and even individuals. Social media help maintain these connections by giving the migrants and their friends and family back in the country of origin a means of communication at just a push of a button. This allows for faster means of transaction of information such as picture and videos. This in turn helps maintain and construct new narratives and symbols of community identity for these people no matter the distance.

Referencing:

Kuttainen, V. (2015). BA1002: Our space: networks, narratives and the making of place, Lecture 7: people networks. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au

Ma Mung, E (2005). Disapora, spatiality, identities. Comparative Eurpoean research in migration, diversity and identities. (pp.33-48). Bilbao, Spain: University of Deusto

Image From:

McKalin, V. (2015). Islamic State kicked from Twitter: Found social haven at Diaspora? Retrieved from www.techtimes.com