Navigating the Path to Europe: How Social Media Shapes Irregular Migration Decisions Among Kurdish Youth

Migration from the Kurdistan Region is not a new phenomenon. Across generations, people have attempted to reach Europe, with each group utilizing distinct methods and routes to reach their intended destinations. The introduction and expansion of internet infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region have led to a substantial annual rise in the number of internet users. According to statistics from the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Information Technology Department, only 335,750 people in the region were connected to the internet in 2010. By 2020, however, this number had surged to 3 million users (Rudaw, 2021). This growth mirrors a global trend, where approximately 92% of internet users actively engage with various social media platforms (Harris et al., 2015). Over the past decade, social media use in the Kurdistan Region has grown substantially. Generally, these platforms serve multiple purposes: maintaining communication with friends and acquaintances, filling leisure time, accessing news and information, discovering trending topics, staying informed about current events, and following the lives of friends and public figures (Datareportal, 2022). Considering the high number of social media users in the Kurdistan Region and the diverse ways these platforms are utilized, it is reasonable to suggest that social media may contribute to shaping perceptions of migration and potentially influence young people's decisions to migrate.

1.1 RESEARCH PROBLEM

Every year, a considerable portion of young individuals from the Kurdistan Region choose to migrate irregularly to Europe. Existing data indicates that this number is steadily on the rise. Considering this development, this study intends to explore the following research questions:

1. To what extent does social media influence the decision-making process of irregular migration among youth in the Kurdistan Region?

2. Does the portrayal of Europe on social media reflect its reality, or is it an idealized and potentially misleading image?

3. Do the young people who decide to migrate irregularly have an accurate understanding of life in Europe and how their lifestyles may change?

4. What are the living conditions of refugees in Europe, and to what extent are they satisfied with their lives?

1.2 RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE

This research highlights the influence of social media in shaping the perceptions and expectations of youth regarding irregular migration. It examines whether the image of Europe formed through social media is reflective of reality and how it affects decision-making among young people. As such, the findings are valuable in setting realistic expectations before migration decisions are made. The findings are especially important for young people, as will enable them to think about the ramifications of their behavior and may make them think twice about the idealized online depictions found on social media. Additionally, the study provides key lessons for the role of government and nongovernmental organizations in the area of migration and irregular migration. These results will be employed to create more successful awareness campaigns and provide a less biased view of European life on social media, helping young people make more knowledgeable and informed decisions.

1.3 Research Objectives

The main focus of this study is to explore the perceptions and mental images regarding Europe held by young people in the Kurdistan Region before they decide to migrate through irregular channels. This understanding can be further enriched by exploring the role social media plays in influencing these perceptions. Additionally, the study aims to depict the realities of refugee life during migration, including associated dangers. Finally, it seeks to compare the actual experiences of Kurds in Europe with the expectations held by people in Kurdistan. This contrast is designed to enable young people to develop a more open understanding and make more informed decisions when considering irregular migration.

1.4 Scope of Research

? Location: The Kurdistan Region of Iraq and European countries where Kurdish refugees reside.

? Timeframe: October and November of the year 2021.

1.5 Population and Sampling

Building on the above discussion, because of the multidimensionality of the social context, the use of a multi-method approach is pursued to present ideal-typical and real pictures of Europe among young Kurdish people. a convenience sampling technique, a commonly used non-probability method in social research. This approach is well-suited for reaching individuals who are accessible, particularly through online platforms. In a non-probability sampling technique, the researcher selects a sample based on proximity and accessibility within a short amount of time. In this method, people participate in the survey voluntarily (Nikolopoulou, 2022).

1.6 Definition of Key Concepts

1.6.1 Irregular Migration

Irregular migration can be defined as the movement of people from one geographical area to another to achieve either temporary or permanent settlement without legal authorization (Omar, 2021). It refers to the migration of individuals from their home countries to another country where they illegally or through smuggling (Ezegwu, 2020). The causes of irregular migration vary from person to person but generally include economic, social, political, and environmental factors (LIRS, 2021). help clarify the directions and motives of migration:

1. Push factors such as war, poverty, and lack of security force individuals to leave their home countries.
2. Pull factors include the attraction to better living conditions or opportunities in the destination country (Jessica, 2018).

1.6.2 Forced Migration in Kurdistan

The Kurds, like any other nation or ethnic group in the world, have experienced forced migration as a result of various sociopolitical conditions (Saeed et al., 2025). In certain instances, this migration was voluntary and driven by a need to relocate due to economic difficulties, geographic limitations, or natural disasters. On other occasions, forced migration was a consequence of warfare, occupation, or political repression (Ahmed et al., 2025). Over time, migration has taken on new meanings and implications, as it has become a significant social phenomenon with increasing numbers of young people, particularly those aged 15 to 25, moving out of Kurdistan due to a lack of opportunities and political instability. (Hassan, 2022; Abdula et al., 2025). Migration in Kurdistan, once characterized by a sense of nationalism and a struggle for freedom and independence, has evolved (Salih, 2021; and Hameed et al., 2025). After the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the nature of migration began to shift, largely due to political instability, insecurity, and discontent with governance (Ahmed et al., 2025). After the liberation of Iraq and the subsequent economic crisis, migration took on a new form. Unemployment, dissatisfaction with political leadership, and the desire for a better future overseas have increasingly fuelled migration. Young people, often facing unemployment and poor prospects, view migration as an opportunity to improve their living standards. They are motivated by aspirations of new possibilities and better futures, despite the challenges they face in finding sustainable means of livelihood. (Hassan, 2022). According to a report by the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office and the Central Statistics Agency of Iraq, in collaboration with UNHCR, the desire for migration is high, with 54.4% of the population in Kurdistan expressing interest in moving abroad due to the hardships of life in the region. This marks an increase in migration rates, which have risen by 40% in both Kurdistan and Iraq (Nas News, 2022).

1.6.3 Social Media

In the second half of the 1990s, a new form of electronic communication emerged, which was based on global media and computer communication networks (Castells, 1383: 422). The World Wide Web became a comprehensive tool for managing connections and utilizing information over the Internet (Salih et al., 2019). In the Web 2.0 era, the nature of connections shifted from one-way information delivery to interactive communication, enabling text messaging, chatting, audio and video exchanges, file sharing, and voice calls. (Abdulrahman, 1395: 15). Social media is a modern electronic platform that enables users to engage, form groups, and communicate with one another (Yaqub, 2025; Mohammed et al., 2025). These platforms facilitate interaction and the exchange of information, allowing individuals to participate in discussions, share content, and develop community-driven initiatives (Salih., et al 2025). Therefore, social media can be described as a powerful technology that assists in the creation, sharing, and dissemination of information, thoughts, and ideas via digital networks and online communities (Jan H and Hermkens, 2011).

1.7 The Impact of Social Media on Decision-Making

In an era of Web 2.0, social media has become an indispensable part of our everyday lives, playing an essential role in many aspects, such as acquiring information, connecting with peers, and utilizing other services. Several communication theories have examined the impact of social media on decision-making (Salih, 2018; Omar et al., 2025). One major theoretical framework is Media Richness Theory, which proposes that richer media contexts lead to greater effectiveness in the communication process between people (Sirwan et al., 2025). "It is argued that the richer the communication medium, the more accurate a decision is likely to be, as richer media can convey more information subtly" (Daft & Lengel, 1986, p. 853). In the age of social media, communication offers greater immediacy and personalization; messages can reach individuals much more directly. This often leads to a faster and more powerful decision-making process (Hamasalih et al., 2025). Another relevant theory concerning social media and decision-making is crowd behavior theory, which holds that individuals in a crowd may behave differently than they would individually, feeling disconnected from real consequences and following the actions of the "herd." Social media can facilitate the formation and spread of such crowd behavior, where the impact of decisions on individuals is influenced by mass opinion and social influence (Power & Wren, 2011). Conformity theory is also pertinent, positing that people adapt their thoughts, feelings, and actions to those of the groups they are members of or wish to join. According to this theory, social media can make conformity easier by creating online communities and networks where individuals may feel pressured to align with popular opinions (Bernheim, 1994; Palani et al., 2025). There are many significant examples of social media's impact on collective decision-making. For instance, social networking sites like Facebook and YouTube played a substantial role in mobilizing people during the Arab Spring protests in 2011 (saeed et al., 2025). While not the only medium, social networking services (SNS) were instrumental in these mobilizations and continue to influence decisions and actions in various contexts (Sankaran, 2011; Kirkpatrick, 2011). Social media also proved to be an influential tool in shaping voters’ decisions in the 2011 US general election, where campaigns strategically used these networks to sway public opinion and predict election outcomes (El Nasser, 2011). Furthermore, during the Belarus migration crisis, Facebook's parent company, Meta, was implicated in the spread of misinformation on its platform. Such circumstances reportedly led to an increase in attempts by Belarusians to flee to Europe, driven by fake news circulating on the platform (Hameed et al., 2025). This situation illustrates how social media can influence migration choices among young people (Voice of America, 2022). These are just a few examples demonstrating the significant weight social media carries in decision-making processes related to both migration and political actions (Yaqub, 2024).

2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Everett Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations Theory provides the framework for analyzing the data in the present study (Harun et al., 2025). According to this theory, diffusion is a process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system. Diffusion occurs as individuals communicate the innovation, leading to its adoption by some members of the social system and resulting in certain effects (Rogers, 2003). The "innovation" under investigation in this paper is the use of social media concerning both decision-making about migration and the dissemination of information about Europe. In this context, diffusion refers to the communication of new technologies and ideas via social media, where individuals engage in discussions to share new information that influences their intention to migrate (Hamasalih et al., 2025). Rogers explains that the diffusion of an innovation itself typically consists of five stages that influence an individual's decision-making process regarding that innovation:

Knowledge—An individual is exposed to the innovation's existence and gains some understanding of how it functions.

Persuasion—The individual forms a favorable or unfavourable attitude toward innovation.

Decision—The individual engages in activities that lead to a choice to adopt or reject the innovation.

Implementation The individual puts the new idea into use.

Confirmation—The individual seeks reinforcement for innovation-decision already made or reverses a previous decision if exposed to conflicting messages about the innovation.

These stages can culminate in a decision about migration, where individuals use social media for conversation, discussion, and information gathering to help them decide in favor of. This is a dynamic process where communication and feedback individuals' decisions. This theoretical approach is useful for understanding the role new media, in general, and social media, in particular, play in decision-making related to migration and information sharing (Yaqub, 2024). In this study's approach, the diffusion process begins with a phase where individuals in the Kurdistan Region search for information about Europe and potential travel routes using social media. Subsequently, as an individual develops an interest, they actively relevant information, often through social media pages or by connecting with people who can offer insights into life in Europe and the practicalities of travel. is followed by the decision phase, during which the individual considers the course of action, weighing its pros and cons (Aivas et al., 2025). As Gryniewicz notes, "This is where their decision at this point." Rogers considers this stage particularly critical: the individual, having gathered necessary information, then makes a decision. The next step is the implementation phase, where the person may be encouraged to carry out the decision, which can involve planning the move. The final stage is confirmation, involving an evaluation of whether the decision has been successful or not. This framework leads to the central question of this study: Does the information that individuals in the Kurdistan Region receive via social media influence their decision-making process regarding migration? Moreover, once individuals reach the decision-making phase, do they carefully weigh the benefits and risks to determine if their choice is correct or flawed? 

METHODOLOGY

Given the diversity of the study population comprising three distinct groups: Facebook users in the Kurdistan Region, Kurds in Europe who use Facebook, and Kurdish citizens who have migrated to Europe three different methodologies were employed to collect data from each group (Aziz et al., 2025). This approach facilitates a comparative analysis aimed at demonstrating the existing desire for migration to European countries among Kurdish youth, followed by a comparison with the actual situation to verify these aspirations. To gather insights into the social media behavior of individuals residing in the Kurdistan Region, a survey method was utilized. This involved creating an electronic survey using Google Forms, which was then distributed to the sample group. Additionally, participant observation was another analytical strategy pursued in this study. In this instance, the researcher followed a group of young men who had already decided to migrate and were in the process of to Europe. In this approach, the investigator "becomes part of the social environment being studied" (University of Toronto, 2019). This method is unique as it allows the researcher to experience events firsthand while simultaneously reflecting on them externally. This involves engaging in "the action and the action among participants, following along in documentation with what the participants are doing, saying, and observing," which provides a more in-depth understanding of the participants' actions and lived experiences (Aladin, 2021). For example, the researcher traveled to France on October 6, 2021, and spent one month (October 6, 2021 November 6, 2021) observing and interacting with Kurdish migrants from the Kurdistan Region in France (Yaqub, 2022). Another approach utilized in this study is netnography, an ethnographic research method focused on studying people and communities in digital/online spaces. This method is particularly advantageous as it offers relatively simple access to data without significant disruption (Ahmad et al., 2024). Through netnography, the researcher can examine symbols, meanings, and references within a digital context, leading to the accumulation of valuable textual data (Kozinets, 2002, p. 1). This research methodology has gained increasing importance with the widespread use of the internet, creating new possibilities for understanding how online communities interact and communicate and providing researchers with new tools to observe and analyze behaviors. In this manner, individuals can express their opinions and ideas, particularly on social media, and these texts are of high interest to researchers (Heinonen & Medberg, 2018, pp. 4-5).

4. DATA ANALYSIS

4.1 The Impact of Social Media on Migration Decisions to Europe in the Kurdistan Region

To assess the effect of social media on users in the Kurdistan Region regarding migration decisions, 300 online surveys were initially planned and developed using Google Forms. Data collection was conducted through convenience sampling, targeting respondents who were readily accessible and currently available. The survey was distributed to individuals who could access it and were deemed likely to provide pertinent information. Ultimately, 222 completed questionnaires were collected and subsequently analyzed.

Table 1. Demographic Characteristics of the Research Sample

Table 2. Source of Information About Life in Europe

In response to this question, the survey participants could provide more than one answer. The findings indicate that a large number of people use social media to learn about European life. This finding reflects the influence of social media as a significant means of communication in society, with individuals actively using it to acquire information. Furthermore, the results showed that 29.8% of the participants obtain information about life in Europe through family members, while 21% rely on information from their friends and peers.

Table 3. Social Media's Portrayal of Europe: Kurdish Citizens' Views

As shown in Table 3, most individuals have obtained their information about Europe primarily through social media. They generally perceive European countries as desirable places to live and believe that there are abundant job opportunities available there. However, a smaller proportion has also encountered a different narrative on social media, one that highlights the difficulties of life in Europe and the challenges of integration faced by refugees.

Table 4. Citizens’ Justifications for Irregular Migration

As shown in Table 4, although the proportion of individuals who have not seriously considered migrating to Europe is higher, the desire to do so remains significant. Specifically, 41.9% of participants indicated that they have considered migrating to Europe through irregular means. The findings reveal that many young individuals within Kurdish society are contemplating ir