The Medium Is the Message: WeChat, YouTube, and Facebook Usage and Acculturation Outcomes

Abstract

Social media usage has been recognized as an integral part of immigrants’ acculturation experiences, yet research on social media is just emerging, and more detailed understanding is needed. Drawing on the interactive theory of communication and cross-cultural adaptation (ITCCA), the current project used a mixed-method approach to understand how Chinese immigrants’ social media use influences their acculturation experiences. Through focus groups and a survey, we examined which social media platforms Chinese immigrants use and for what purposes during their acculturation process, and what influence social media use has on their acculturation process in Canada. Our findings expand the scope of the ITCCA and offer important practical implications for service providers supporting newcomers.