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How the Internet Is Changing the Migrant Experience

Journey through the many ways technology can bridge the distance for people living abroad; researcher Laura Vidal leads the way.

Laura Vidal

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For as long as humans have ventured far from their homes, they've found ways to stay connected. But the internet offers more than just a faster version of snail mail. Modern-day migrants have been able to harness emerging technology for lifesaving, community-building efforts, in addition to free or low-cost communication with family in their home country.

To amplify those stories—and explore the highs and lows tech can offer—we tapped researcher Laura Vidal, Outreach Coordinator of Mozilla’s 2020 Internet Health Report and a Venezuelan living in France. She explains:

“I’ve always been fascinated by the ways cultures mix and mingle. Especially when I consider how every culture today is the result of people exchanging, learning from each other, and of course, migrating to new places.”

Follow along as Vidal guides you through Cuban wifi parks, the role smartphones have played for refugees, and how emerging apps have offered resources to those who need them most.

Image by smartboy10/Getty Images

4 Tips for Staying Connected During Coronavirus, From Migrants Who Live Far From Family

Laura Vidal: “The lockdowns showed many what communities of migrants had already known for a while: Online communication can help you keep in touch with your family when uncertainty and migration policies keep you from reuniting or visiting your loved ones.”

Migrant Mothers Bridge Distance With Virtual Parenting

LV: “I’ve always felt moved by the experiences of women who leave their own children to care for other people’s children. So I’m fascinated to see how online tools can relieve a bit of the anxiety of not being physically close, even if it’s still not enough. This piece is from 2016, but it clearly details a trend that has only grown exponentially during the pandemic.

For Domestic Workers, Apps Provide Solace — but Not Justice

LV: “Domestic workers can face far too many types of abuse when working abroad. Last year, Aurora Almendral reported on some of their stories and initiatives, fueled by access to technology. Unfortunately, that hasn’t made for a solid solution yet, but it provides a window into these women’s resilience and sense of solidarity.”

Quichua, a Language That Sets Us Free

LV: “This beautiful and moving personal essay can show you how sometimes you can access the heart of your country’s culture while being thousands of kilometers away.”

For Cuba’s Transnational Families, a Little Internet Goes a Long Way

LV: “Whatsapp is the medium for lovers’ quarrels, controlling mothers trying to discipline from afar, and more: This story—re-edited and translated from Spanish by Global Voices—weaves personal accounts in with fascinating analysis of transnational families, and ultimately shows how important the internet is for the Cuban diaspora.”

Gimme Shelter: Venezuelans Abroad Be Like...

LV: “For many Venezuelans, living abroad in the shadow of the political crisis has meant living in two contrasting worlds simultaneously. This illustration by Leonardo Gonzalez captures that dichotomy well: Snow outside and fire on the screens as people follow Venezuelan politics online. Been there, clicked that.”

For Millions of Immigrants, a Common Language: WhatsApp

LV: “I use WhatsApp to communicate with my family daily, and I think it has made a big difference in the ways migrant communities evolve and stay connected with their loved ones, especially with those who are less tech-savvy (hi mom! <3). Farhad Manjoo’s NYT piece explores similar stories, and acknowledges the importance of WhatsApp founder Jan Koum’s immigrant roots.”

How Smartphones Are Helping Refugees in Europe

LV: “I will never forget the comments I saw on social media or heard on the street, criticising migrants for having smartphones in their hands in spite of their situation. It goes to show how little they know about the migrant experience, and how technology can, at times, save your life and your sense of hope with photos, documents and GPS.”

How ICE Uses Tech to Target Immigrants [LISTEN]

LV: “As much as the internet keeps us connected, it can also make us vulnerable. This conversation is hard to hear, but very important: It features Jacinta González, an organizer with Mijente, explaining how the data we leave in cyberspace can be used against us.”

Inside Nexta, the Telegram Channel Run by Raman Pratasevich

LV: “As Pratasevich continues to be unjustly detained in Belarus, Nexta continues to be an example of how being away from your country doesn’t have to prevent you from participating in its political life. Building communication bridges among your fellow citizens doesn’t just have to exist in person anymore.”

Ifemelu’s Blog in ‘Americanah’ [WATCH]

LV: “The internet can also be a way to connect with your new home and try to understand it better. In Americanah, the main character’s blog makes for quite a reading experience within the reading experience, and shows how conversations can go between locals and newcomers when talking about race in the United States. Here, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie adds another layer to the literary experience as she reads one of Ifemelu’s blog posts for her followers on Instagram, opening a window into the novel, the story, and the universe that surrounds them.”

Laura Vidal

Laura Vidal is a Venezuelan researcher based in France, the Outreach Coordinator of the 2020 Internet Health Report, and the producer of its audio experiment, Sounds. Her background and previous experiences cover academic research in learning and intercultural exchange; as well as community organizing for the Latin America team at Global Voices, where she served as a regional editor. Her audio experimentations and interest in expanding complex subjects to many audiences are taking her these days to Internews’ and Heinrich Boell’s Privacy is Global, where she’s working as a producer and storytelling lead.