Blog 5: Social Media and Portable Communities

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Social media is what I would refer to as the communication machine that is not in any way biased. It is an interactive segment dedicated to contents sharing and collaboration of information, and community-based input . Some of the examples of social media include Facebook and Twitter. People in diaspora use different ways to help in maintaining their community identity away from home – this involves keeping a close eye on their home communities. The methods of maintaining the identity display similarity in how social media works.

One of the most important tool that people in diaspora use is forming immigrant organizations . The organizations exist in various forms including hometown, ethnic or even alumni, and serve as avenues people in diaspora use to maintain and exhibit their experience with a particular national territory. (Kuttainen,2015). Just like immigrant organization social media can be used as an avenue to exhibit and maintain community narratives and identity. Facebook, for instance, is a free social networking website that allows subscribers to upload photos and videos, send messages and keep on track with friends and family. Facebook allows users to create groups. In these groups contents that pertains to that group such as videos on community narratives, and news can be shared freely allowing those in the diaspora to keep in touch with the happenings in their homeland. Sharing of their country’s national anthem and the loyalty pledge can easily be effected through the social media.( Mung,2005).

In conclusion, social media brings about the concept of portable communities by allowing people to maintain their community ties and identities. Social media presents updates on day to day basis that makes it the easiest way of blending with people back home.

                                                                       References
Mung, E. (2005). Comparative European Research in Migration, Diversity and Identities. University
          of Deusto
Kuttainen, V. (2015). BA1002: Our space: Networks, Narratives and Making of place. week 7 notes
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