Conclusion and Recommendation - Brief History of Social Media

them a lot of information on almost all the knowledge they sought before they departed from their various home countries. Social media also created a digital bond between those who had already migrated and those who wanted to relocate and are in the information gathering phase (pre-migration information stage).

Two authors (Bakardjieva, 2005; Thulin and Vilhelmson, 2016), in their respective studies on social media’s influence on pre-migration information among migrants, suggested that online interactions on various social media platforms, for example, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, and others with peers, relatives, and acquaintances broadens migrants’ perspectives. It provides them with a lot of specific information about various countries they dream of migrating to. Similarly, in my findings concerning social media’s influence on migrants’ pre-migration, migrants learn a lot through social media and are very informative about almost all the migration processes before departure. Dekker et al.

(2016) also imply that online communication via social media platforms encourages migration ambitions.

In addition, Balá et al. (2016) findings elaborated that making migration decisions is complex even in social media. It was not surprising that, although social media played significant roles in migration decision-making based on migrant's acquired information through social media, its relation to migration decision-making was complex. It was not the pivot of migrants’ decision-making as many had decided to migrate long ago before exploring social media for opportunities to relocate. As further proven by (Thulin and Vilhelmson (2014); Tabor and Milfont (2013); Dekker et al., 2016), social media is progressively intertwined into the different phases of migration decision process. Social media plays a role in migrants’ decision-making. This is in agreement with Thulin & Vilhelmson (2017), who found that social media engagement potentially impacts migrants’ decision making because personal knowledge of the locations of foreign countries and their potential local benefits is vital in migration

decision-making (Fischer and Malmberg, 2001), for example, by assisting in the search for an apartment or employment.

In their making phase, social media also played a significant role in the migration decision-making of my study respondents. It contributed massively to gaining enough information for their migration decision-making. Despite most of them having decided several years ago to migrate, social media made it possible to be convinced to relocate to Finland.

It is, however, also imperative to state that, despite its enormous contribution to migrants' pre-migration information and decision making, social media was not the sole factor known to have influenced migrants completely. Social media acted as a synergistic effect in the entire migration process but was not a sole contributor/influencer among West African migrants in Finland.

This phenomenon is not limited to migrants from West Africa, and therefore my findings would be necessary for Finnish migration officials (MIGRI, etc.) overall. This way, policies made will, however, in the long run, positively or negatively influence future migrants’ decision to migrate to Finland.

Acknowledging the position of current migrants in influencing prospective migrants despite their gathered social media information will be an essential factor in making the country more favorable for future migrants to help contribute to the country’s development in national and international affairs. I also recommend further studies be made to promote the country and make it more accessible and migrant-friendly through social media.

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Appendices

Appendix 1

Informed Consent

Participant Information Leaflet and Consent Form

Title of Research: Social Media and Migration: A Study among West African student migrants in the University of Eastern Finland (UEF)

Name and affiliation of researcher:

My name is ………. from the University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Department of………., and I am conducting the study above.

Background

The purpose of the study is to explore the role of social media in the migration process among West African student migrants at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF).

The procedure of the research

You will be selected purposively to participate in a one-on-one interview which will last for about 60 minutes or more. You will be required to tell me anything involving social media and your migration process to study in Finland. In total, I expect to recruit about 15 participants for the study.

2 Risk(s):

There is a risk that you may share very personal information for the study. However, I do not wish for this to happen. You do not have to share /continue the interview session if you feel it is making you uncomfortable.

Possible Benefits

Your participation in this study will contribute to the improvement in knowledge of social media and the migration process.

Confidentiality:

Your information will be kept confidential. No one will be able to know how you responded to the questions, and your information will be anonymous.

Voluntariness:

Taking part in this study is voluntary, and you can stop participating at any time if you feel uncomfortable.

Alternatives to participation

If you choose not to participate, this will not affect your treatment in this institution in any way.

Withdrawal from the research

You may choose to withdraw from the research at any time without having to explain yourself. You may also choose not to answer any question you find uncomfortable or private.

The consequence of Withdrawal:

There will be no consequence, loss of benefit, or care to you if you choose to withdraw from the study.

Please note, however, that some of the information that may have been obtained from you without identifiers (name, etc.) before you chose to withdraw may have been modified or used in analysis reports and publications. These cannot be removed anymore. I do promise to make a good faith effort to comply with your wishes as much as practicable.

Costs/Compensation

There will not be any incentive to take part in the research

If you have any questions concerning this study, please do not hesitate to contact me (……….) on (Telephone…………../email………..)

CONSENT FORM Statement of the person obtaining informed consent:

I have fully explained this research to ________________________ and have given sufficient information about the study, including the procedures, risks, and benefits, to enable the prospective participant to make an informed decision to or not to participate.

DATE: _____________________ NAME: _____________________

Statement of the person giving consent:

I have read the information on this study/research or have had it translated into a language I understand.

I have also talked it over with the interviewer to my satisfaction.

I understand that my participation is voluntary (not compulsory).

I know enough about the purpose, methods, risks, and benefits of the research study to decide that I want to take part in it.

I understand that I may freely stop being part of this study at any time without having to explain myself.

I have received a copy of this information leaflet and consent form to keep for myself.

NAME:________DATE: ____________ SIGNATURE/THUMB PRINT: ____________

Appendix 2

Interview Guide for Respondents Section A: Demographic Data

INSTRUCTIONS: You are kindly requested to answer the questions below

1. What is your age (in completed years) ……….

2. What is your gender? ……….

3. What is your profession? ……….

4. What is your nationality? ……….

Section B: Influence of social media on migrant’s pre-migration information

5. What is social media?

6. Which social media do you use?

5 -Which ones do you use actively?

7. What is the relevance of social media?

Concerning your pre-migration information

8. What specific information were you searching for using social media during your pre-migration process?

9. How did the various media influence your information on the migration process?

Section C: Influence of social media on migrant’s decision making

10. At what point did you decide to migrate?

11. Was the pre-migration information enough for your decision-making? Why?

12. How did social media influence your migration decision-making?

13. What were your concerns about using social media?

14. What were your concerns or fears about social media’s involvement in your migration decision-making?

6 Appendix 3

Ethical Sheet

Background

The purpose of the study is to explore the role of social media in the migration process among migrants in Joensuu, Finland. I aim to answer two main questions, which are; how social media influenced the pre-migration information among migrants and also how social media influenced the migration decision-making among migrants. This is a unique area of research where I aim to contribute to understanding the major roles social media have had in the migration process of migrants and also help intervene by finding through recommendations. Participants will be selected purposively to participate in this study.

Interviews will be conducted to collect data and will last about 60 minutes or more for each participant.

This is to ensure adequate time to understand in-depth narratives from each participant. Participation is voluntary.

Ethical Considerations

Permission and consent will be sought from each of your participants before the study begins. Your participation is voluntary, and you can opt out of the study at any time without having to give any explanation. The information obtained will be used solely for the academic purpose of the study. After the study, data collected will be kept under strictly locked or password encrypted files only accessible to researchers till after a year, when it will then be destroyed completely. Your confidentiality is highly considered, and privacy will be ensured.

7 Appendix 4

Letter of invitation to participate in research

University Of Eastern Finland

Letter of invitation to participate in research

Social Media and Migration: A Study among West African student migrants in Joensuu, Finland Date_________________________

Dear_________________________

I invite you to participate in a research study conducted by Michael Tandoh, a student in the Social Sciences Department of the University of Eastern Finland Border Crossing Program.______________________ is my supervisor.

Interviews will be conducted to collect data and will last about 60 minutes or more for each participant.

This is to ensure adequate time to understand in-depth narratives from each participant.

Participation is completely voluntary. If you choose to participate, you may choose to discontinue participation at any time, and you may decide which interview questions you wish to answer and or those that you do not wish to answer.

Your completion of the interview indicates your consent to be part of the study.

Please feel free to contact me at …………..(email) or ……….(Tel) if you have any questions.

Sincerely Michael Tandoh Student, UEF

In document Brief History of Social Media (sivua 50-71)