How do social platforms such as Facebook help migrant communities cope with the
adversities faced during the migration journey? This is the question that drove this study, which
explores the on- and offline experiences of Malagasy migrants in France during their migration
journeys. We use complementary mixed methods, including an online survey (2021, n = 340) and
participant observation of in-group and public interactions on 28 Facebook groups and pages of
this community. We found that peer-to-peer ...
How do social platforms such as Facebook help migrant communities cope with the
adversities faced during the migration journey? This is the question that drove this study, which
explores the on- and offline experiences of Malagasy migrants in France during their migration
journeys. We use complementary mixed methods, including an online survey (2021, n = 340) and
participant observation of in-group and public interactions on 28 Facebook groups and pages of
this community. We found that peer-to-peer solidarity as a collective response to the adversities
faced during migration is present and very active within the Malagasy community in France. The
exchanges among the members of this community concerning matters such as administrative issues
and the transport of parcels between France and Madagascar are intense and continuous. Beyond
this, solidarity chains are temporarily activated in response to specific needs, and particularly in
collectively challenging times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research also found that in
their groups and pages, the Malagasy in France engage less frequently in other vital issues, such as
finding work.
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