Cleaners and labourers on Facebook? Bulgarians in the UK between free movers and a digital diaspora

Abstract

This study explores the way Bulgarians living in the UK interact online. We rely on an online survey of attitudes among Bulgarians in the UK, participant observation in Bulgarian support networks during the period 2016-20, as well as qualitative interaction analysis (adapted for non-visual environments) over the course of six months (2019-20) of top posts from the largest online support groups. Our findings point to the gradual consolidation of organised informal support among Bulgarians, especially and predominantly among those of 'low-status' occupations and more precarious migration journeys. We also observe a trend of emancipation and entrepreneurship enabled by online networks in the almost complete absence of formal associations of Bulgarians in the UK. Finally, we acknowledge the importance of the context of crisis and precarity for the emergence of informal support networks online. What this tells us about Bulgarians in the UK is that, while often avoided by so called 'elite migrants', informal support groups have begun to function as quasi-diasporic communities assisted by online social networking platforms, (still) facilitated by free movement but creating a unique transnational space between 'home' and 'the foreign' to enable mobility, interaction and belonging.

The Facebook Groups and Pages of Malagasy Migrants in France: Hubs of Peer-to-Peer and Spontaneous Solidarity

“…The experience of the Malagasy migrants in France is, however, quite different from the solidarity chains of other migrant communities from low-income countries in high-income countries, such as the Bulgarians in the United Kingdom or the dynamics of some African diasporas in the US (Mesbah and Cooper 2019). In fact, if we compare the Facebook groups and pages of the Malagasy migrants in France with those of Bulgarians in the UK, we notice (i) that the Malagasy in France have no specific group or page dedicated to professional exchanges, and (ii) that posts related to this topic in general groups are less frequent than within the Facebook groups and pages of Bulgarians in the UK, as reported by Nancheva (2021). Overall, we believe that this is intimately related to the high level of integration of the Malagasy in France and to their high educational qualifications, as described by Razafindrakoto et al (2017).…”

“…1) compared to offline observations. Finally, this choice was motivated by the proven relevance of this platform, since other empirical studies of other diaspora communities in the same line have already been successfully carried out on Facebook (Nancheva 2021;Mesbah and Cooper 2019).…”

Communities of/for Interest: Revisiting the Role of Migrants’ Online Groups

“…At the same time, research has also shown that online communities enable migrants to connect and ‘glue’ together not only in the virtual space but also in places and localities in which they have come to live (Nancheva, 2021; Oosterbaan, 2010; Sabido, 2017). These studies have demonstrated how online communities facilitate migrant settlement and emplacement in the country of destination, thus providing an important avenue of integration and empowerment especially for more marginalised migrant individuals (Kok and Rogers, 2017; Nancheva, 2021).…”

“…At the same time, research has also shown that online communities enable migrants to connect and ‘glue’ together not only in the virtual space but also in places and localities in which they have come to live (Nancheva, 2021; Oosterbaan, 2010; Sabido, 2017). These studies have demonstrated how online communities facilitate migrant settlement and emplacement in the country of destination, thus providing an important avenue of integration and empowerment especially for more marginalised migrant individuals (Kok and Rogers, 2017; Nancheva, 2021). Scholars have also highlighted the importance of social capital generated by migrants’ online groups, pointing to different ways in which these groups function as informal support networks for their members (Bucholtz and Sūna, 2019; Chen and Choi, 2011; Oh, 2016; Oosterbaan, 2010; Sabido 2017; Nancheva, 2021).…”

“…These studies have demonstrated how online communities facilitate migrant settlement and emplacement in the country of destination, thus providing an important avenue of integration and empowerment especially for more marginalised migrant individuals (Kok and Rogers, 2017; Nancheva, 2021). Scholars have also highlighted the importance of social capital generated by migrants’ online groups, pointing to different ways in which these groups function as informal support networks for their members (Bucholtz and Sūna, 2019; Chen and Choi, 2011; Oh, 2016; Oosterbaan, 2010; Sabido 2017; Nancheva, 2021). Inter alia, this includes group users sharing information and experiences about their daily lives, receiving practical help and emotional support on a range of issues, meeting new people, socialising among themselves and so on.…”