Misinformation targeting migrants

Misinformation targeting migrants refers to the deliberate and widespread dissemination of false or inaccurate information directed towards migrants to the United States spread through various channels, including social media. This type of misinformation can include fake news, rumors, and the misinterpretation of facts, frequently involving the tweaking or twisting of existing information rather than outright fabrication.^[1] Misinformation targets various groups involved in migration, including in-transit migrants and immigrant/diaspora communities in destination countries.^[2]^[3] It is a pervasive issue in the context of migration, a topic that is highly mediatized and politicized.

Though misinformation can be perpetuated through traditional news outlets and individual perspectives,^[1] social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, TikTok and Instagram are primary channels for its spread.^[3]^[4] Misinformation can be networked across a variety of platforms and websites outside of immediate social media datasets, including proprietary web pages, YouTube channels, and messaging platforms, amplifying misleading content.^[3] The decentralized nature of content generation and intense competition among online publishers contribute to the prevalence of sensational headlines and rapid content replication.^[5]

The spread of misinformation significantly impacts both migrants and local communities. For migrants, it can lead to exploitation by smugglers and traffickers, provide misleading information about journey risks and services, and create mistrust towards official authorities. In host societies, it fosters negative attitudes, reinforces prejudices, and can influence policy decisions.^[2] Efforts to combat this misinformation include promoting media literacy, evidence-based reasoning, and community-led fact-checking initiatives.

^ ^a ^b Komendantova, Nadejda; Erokhin, Dmitry; Albano, Teresa (2023-07-19). "Misinformation and Its Impact on Contested Policy Issues: The Example of Migration Discourses". Societies. 13 (7): 168. doi:10.3390/soc13070168. ISSN 2075-4698.
^ ^a ^b Bandiera, Antonella; Rojas, Daniel (2024-12-13). "Misinformation among Migrants: Evidence from Mexico and Colombia". Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction. doi:10.31219/osf.io/md42a. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
^ ^a ^b ^c Moran, Rachel; Nguyễn, Sarah; Bui, Linh (2023-04-16). "Sending News Back Home: Misinformation Lost in Transnational Social Networks". Proc. ACM Hum.-Comput. Interact. 7 (CSCW1): 88:1–88:36. doi:10.1145/3579521.
^ May, C. D. (2024). Developing Autonomy and Identity on TikTok Among Recently Arrived Latin American Migrants to the United States. CUNY Academic Works
^ Zhang, Chi (2022-02-17), "WeChatting American politics", WeChat and the Chinese Diaspora (1 ed.), London: Routledge, pp. 117–146, doi:10.4324/9781003154754-10, ISBN 978-1-003-15475-4, retrieved 2025-06-24

[:02-1] Komendantova, Nadejda; Erokhin, Dmitry; Albano, Teresa (2023-07-19). "Misinformation and Its Impact on Contested Policy Issues: The Example of Migration Discourses". Societies. 13 (7): 168. doi:10.3390/soc13070168. ISSN 2075-4698.

[:12-2] Bandiera, Antonella; Rojas, Daniel (2024-12-13). "Misinformation among Migrants: Evidence from Mexico and Colombia". Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction. doi:10.31219/osf.io/md42a. Retrieved 2025-06-24.

[:22-3] Moran, Rachel; Nguyễn, Sarah; Bui, Linh (2023-04-16). "Sending News Back Home: Misinformation Lost in Transnational Social Networks". Proc. ACM Hum.-Comput. Interact. 7 (CSCW1): 88:1–88:36. doi:10.1145/3579521.

[:32-4] May, C. D. (2024). Developing Autonomy and Identity on TikTok Among Recently Arrived Latin American Migrants to the United States. CUNY Academic Works

[:42-5] Zhang, Chi (2022-02-17), "WeChatting American politics", WeChat and the Chinese Diaspora (1 ed.), London: Routledge, pp. 117–146, doi:10.4324/9781003154754-10, ISBN 978-1-003-15475-4, retrieved 2025-06-24

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