New Greek migrant (dis)identifications in social media: Evidence from a discourse-centred online ethnographic study

The advent of social media has profoundly impacted the lives of migrants globally, serving as tools for information access, communication, identity construction, and political action. This paper investigates the discursive construction of identity among new Greek migrants—those who migrated after the 2010 Greek crisis—on social media platforms. The study uses a framework combining social constructionist approaches to identity, discourse studies, and online ethnography. Two central arguments guide the research: first, migrant identities are unique and constantly evolving; second, social media significantly impacts identity construction and belonging. The research addresses a gap in qualitative research on new Greek migrants by examining their self-perception and self-presentation using data from social media and interviews. The focus is on migrants settled in the UK and Germany, two primary destinations for this population.

Existing literature highlights the transformative role of social media in migrant lives, encompassing communication, resource access, identity formation, and political participation. Studies emphasize the unique and constantly shifting nature of migrant identities, shaped by the search for belonging and adaptation to changing social contexts. The literature also notes the pivotal role of social media in identity construction, allowing migrants to negotiate belonging and articulate transnational affiliations. However, nuanced qualitative research specifically on new Greek migrants, particularly within discourse studies, remains scarce, despite considerable work on the socioeconomic aspects of this migration wave. This study bridges this research gap by focusing on the often-neglected qualitative aspects of new Greek migration.

This study employs a discourse-centred online ethnographic approach, combining online ethnography with discourse analysis. The research design incorporates two dimensions: screen-based observation and participant-based interaction. The screen-based component involved systematic, longitudinal observation of social media discourse from five participants (three in the UK, two in Germany), comprising posts, comments, images, and videos from their blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. Access to private accounts was obtained with the participants' consent. The participant-based dimension consisted of in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted via Skype, along with email and Facebook Messenger communications. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, focusing on 25-35-year-old highly educated Greek migrants who had lived in their host country for at least a year. The data encompass the period before migration until August 2019. The analysis focuses on (dis)identification processes using Brubaker and Cooper’s multidimensional identity framework, examining self- and other-identification, disidentification, and the seeking or eschewing of group membership. The discourse analysis considers stance-taking, intertextuality, entextualization, and coupling as key discursive means for identity construction.

The analysis reveals four key (dis)identification processes: 1. **Self-Identifications:** Participants identified themselves as economic migrants (driven by necessity), nostalgic migrants (expressing longing for Greece), lifestyle migrants (highlighting positive aspects of life abroad), and transnational migrants (maintaining connections to both home and host countries). These identities were constructed through various semiotic resources, including text, images, and hashtags. For instance, images on Instagram showcased a positive lifestyle abroad, while blog posts included nostalgic references to Greek culture. 2. **Other-Identifications:** Participants were identified by others (friends and social media audiences) in various ways. Friends used endearing terms like "beloved migrant," emphasizing their new status and positive outlook. Social media audiences viewed participants as skilled storytellers and altruistic individuals helping other Greeks abroad. Public discourses, however, often portrayed new Greek migrants negatively as quitters or adventurers, a perspective the participants explicitly rejected in interviews. 3. **Disidentifications:** Participants distanced themselves from various aspects of their home and host countries. Disidentification from Greece involved criticism of the political system and social welfare services (expressed through hashtags and negative affective stance-taking). Disidentification from host countries centered on issues like Brexit, rising xenophobia, and criminality. These were expressed more openly in interviews than on social media. Participants also actively resisted negative public narratives about new Greek migrants, re-framing the discourse to highlight the reasons for their departure and their resilience. 4. **Commonality, Connectedness, and Groupness:** Participants both sought and eschewed connection with other new Greek migrants. Some actively engaged in online communities, offering advice and support, while others emphasized their differences in migration experiences and motivations, highlighting the diversity within the group. The study reveals that while shared nationality and migration context exists, new Greek migrants do not form a homogenous group.

The findings demonstrate the multifaceted and hybrid nature of new Greek migrant identities, shaped by economic, social, cultural, and political factors. The study's qualitative approach provides a nuanced understanding of the lived experiences of these migrants, going beyond simple economic or political interpretations. The use of social media allows for the expression of complex and often contradictory identities, reflecting the dynamic nature of identity formation in the context of migration. The analysis highlights the importance of considering both self-identification and other-identification in understanding migrant experiences. The discrepancy between the online and offline (interview) expressions of disidentification suggests that social media allows for strategic self-presentation and careful management of public image.

This study offers a rich qualitative exploration of the (dis)identification processes among new Greek migrants using social media. The findings demonstrate the hybrid and dynamic nature of migrant identities, highlighting the influence of personal experiences, public discourses, and social media affordances. Future research could expand on this work by investigating migrants in different geographical locations, focusing on various platforms and incorporating other relevant discourse mechanisms, thus further enriching our understanding of digital diaspora identity.

The study's relatively small sample size and focus on migrants in the UK and Germany limit the generalizability of the findings. The reliance on self-reported data necessitates caution in interpreting the results. Further, the research was limited to publicly available or consented-to private social media content. Exploring private communications could offer additional insights, though this would require navigating complex ethical considerations.