How is the spread of the internet changing migration?
A recent study found a link between internet growth and migration behaviors.
"The digital revolution brought about by the advent of the Internet has transformed our societies, economies, and way of life. Migration is no exception in this revolution," says co-author Luca Maria Pesando, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Centre on Population Dynamics at McGill University.
The study was published in the journal, Population and Development Review, which noted internet use and migration pathways.
"The Internet not only gives us access to more information; it allows us to easily compare ourselves to others living in other -- often wealthier -- countries through social media," says Pesando.
"Our findings contribute to the growing research on digital demography, where Internet-generated data or digital breadcrumbs are used to study migration and other demographic phenomena," says Pesando. "Our work suggests that the Internet acts not just as an instrument to observe migration behaviors, but indeed actively supports the migration process."
Source: Science Daily