The Camera is On! Exploring Migration in a Digital Community of Practice

Migration has been an integral part of Sudanese society for generations, with movement from Sudan historically linked to broader migration trends across the Sahel and North Africa. In the contemporary era, digital technology has become a crucial tool in facilitating migration, providing migrants with real-time access to information and advice throughout their journeys. This technological evolution has generated both interest and concern, particularly regarding the use of digital platforms to support irregularized migration and help migrants navigate potential risks of exploitation by smugglers and human traffickers (IOM, 2022). This paper adopts the framework of “communities of practice,” as conceptualized by Wenger, McDermott, and Snyder. They define communities of practice as “groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis” (Wenger, McDermott, & Snyder, 2002, p.4). Interaction and engagement are thus central to the formation of these communities. In the context of migration, migrants, smugglers, and intermediaries collectively constitute a community of practice, despite their diverse roles and experiences. Their interactions shape how they participate in and navigate the irregularized migration process. This migratory community of practice has increasingly shifted to the digital realm. Migrants have adapted online tools- originally developed for different purposes- as essential components of their migration strategies. Over time, these digital resources have been integrated into migratory practices, enhancing the community’s collective knowledge and experience. As Wenger et al. (2023) observe, online platforms have become a key element of most communities of practice, enabling asynchronous interactions that transcend spatial and temporal boundaries. The blending of online and in-person interactions has allowed migrants to establish different forms of presence within their digital community. Many communities of practice maintain a webpage or social media presence, even in a minimal form. These platforms serve both symbolic and practical functions- acting as markers of identity, entry points for outsiders, and “home spaces” for members. They offer features such as calendars, member directories, document repositories, and collaborative tools akin to wikis for joint planning and information sharing (Wenger et al., 2023, p.189). This paper examines how Sudanese migrants utilize Facebook groups and other social media platforms to gather knowledge and navigate the complexities of migration. A qualitative research approach, incorporating online ethnography and contextual analysis, was employed to analyze posts from 12 Facebook groups and content from a YouTube channel. These digital sources provide valuable insights into how migrants exchange information about migration routes, costs, smugglers, and potential challenges, particularly in transit countries such as Libya, Tunisia, Niger, Algeria, Morocco, Turkey, and across the Balkan route. Preliminary findings indicate that Facebook groups have become a crucial information hub for aspiring migrants. Beyond information-sharing, these platforms foster a sense of shared identity, with users developing specialized terminologies related to irregularized migration. In response to Facebook’s increased content restrictions, migrants have adapted by using local languages and coded terms to circumvent detection algorithms.