NexSM – Social Media for Migration and Society

In recent years, migrant organisations have increasingly become sought-after and recognised actors in social discourses, advancing the participation of their members and, based on their diversity, constructively contributing to the societal developments in Germany.

Based on the premise that the effects of digitalisation are decisive for the participation of people with migrant background, new forms of migrant communities have formed in and with the help of social media.

Initiated and managed by members of the communities themselves, huge digital networks and spaces have emerged on social media in the form of Facebook groups, YouTube channels, WhatsApp group chats, forums, etc. in the languages of migrant communities. The new migrant organisations not only influence diverse interactions with the respective countries of origin, but also with migrant communities in other countries. In the meantime, some „conventional“ migrant organisations are trying to position themselves on social media, but are confronted with major challenges.

So far, there are still too few points of contact and opportunities for exchange between the rapid developments in the field of social network digitalisation on the one hand and the structures and actors of the migration society on the other.

The project „NexSM“ aims to build an exchange and education platform to address the new digital gaps and to strengthen the participation of migrant organisations in the scientific and social discourse, so that they can further develop their bridging character to support people with a migrant history on social media.

In order to promote this development in networking and discourse, NexSM will present current research findings on integration-relevant effects of digitalisation at professional events, educational workshops and publications. Thereby NexSM will facilitate exchange and networking not only at the national level, but also with actors at the European level.