Determinants of Social Media Usage in Illegal Immigration: Evidence from Arab World

Document Type : Original Article

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Lecturer at Faculty of Mass Communication, Ain Shams University

Abstract

 
 
This research explores the dynamics of illegal immigration and smuggling activities facilitated through Facebook groups, aiming to understand the determinants of this new media usage in the context of illegal immigration among the Arab population. By applying and modifying the Social Network Sites Adoption (SNSA) Model, the research identifies key determinants influencing the use of social media for these illegal activities. Data was collected through an e-survey of 415 Arab participants—from twelve Arab countries—who are involved in illegal immigration groups on Facebook, using a structural equation modeling technique. The findings underscore the significant role of trust and perceived usefulness in shaping attitudes and actual usage, while perceived risks negatively impact attitudes. The results reveal that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trust, and perceived risk are all determinants of illegal immigrants' use of Facebook for illegal immigration, supporting the mediating role of attitude in the proposed model. The study provides crucial insights into the social media behaviors of illegal immigrants, contributing to the broader understanding of digital platforms' roles in facilitating such activities. 
 
 

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