Social networks have changed the life of expatriates.
According to statistics, 56% of people use social networks every day in a very active way, spending an average of 2h07 per day in the US.
The rise of social networks is also reflected in the lives of expatriates.
Social networks
between expatriates:
Today, with a simple click, they can find all the good tips they need, this greatly facilitates solidarity between expatriates.
Before, in order to meet up for an evening or an outing with other expatriates, it was necessary to get information from the embassy. Now, there are hundreds of groups on social media. On the number 1 network Facebook, 92 million expatriates are organized by country or by community. For example, the French have their own group in almost every country in the world. Often under the name of “the French in the Netherlands” or “French in New Zealand”. The latter is one of the most important, gathering tens of thousands of members. This aspect of sharing and mutual aid is very positive, it allows to encourage new encounters.
But be careful not to close yourself off in a community, expatriation is also about opening yourself up to foreigners and new cultures.
with the rest of the world:
Concerning the contacts facilitated with relatives back home, the role of social networks is double-edged. Before the networks, communication was cut off because calls were expensive and mail took a long time to arrive. Today, the disconnect no longer exists, expatriates stay connected to their country of origin and to their loved ones mainly through WhatsApp and Messenger or Instagram to post all their adventures and discoveries. Indeed, messages are instantaneous and videoconferences are incredibly easy.
This notion of constant sharing can have a negative aspect, the fact of always wanting to show and prove that one is doing things. Maintaining a strong link with the country of origin can taint the quality of the expatriation.
All of this can raise the question of the impact of social networks: positive or negative?
If you want to know more about expatriate life, don’t hesitate to look at our numerous articles on the subject.
