Digital News Use Among Immigrants

In recent years, digital technology, social media, and mobile devices have drastically changed how people consume news. While access to digital media has expanded, inequalities persist. Initially, these were about who had access to the internet. Now, they include differences in how people use digital news (second-level inequalities) and how much they benefit from it, such as gaining knowledge or staying informed (third-level inequalities). These gaps are critical because informed citizens make better decisions about voting, health, and finances—key issues for a healthy democracy.
Immigrants are particularly disadvantaged in this context. They often have lower political participation and struggle to access reliable news in their host countries, which became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when misinformation and poor access led to worse outcomes. Social media can help immigrants stay connected to their home countries but may also hinder integration.
This research will examine digital inequalities among immigrants in Belgium, focusing on how factors like class, gender, and age shape their news use, political knowledge, and vulnerability to misinformation. By combining surveys and interviews, the study aims to understand how digital tools affect immigrant communities and will contribute to academic debates on media, politics, and inclusion.