The Social Media of Migrant Workers: A Bibliometric Analysis

Introduction: Social media significantly influences the socio-economic and cultural experiences of migrant workers worldwide. It serves as a tool for communication, labor advocacy, identity negotiation, and social support among migrant communities.Objective: This study aims to explore the scholarly research landscape on the relationship between social media and migration from 2015 to 2025. It seeks to identify publication trends, thematic focuses, collaboration networks, and key contributors in this field to understand how research has evolved and where it is headed.Method: A bibliometric and thematic analysis was conducted using data from the Scopus database, focusing on publications from 2015 to 2025. The analysis employed the Bibliometrix R package and VOSviewer to map out publication trends, author networks, institutional collaboration, and research themes.Results: The analysis reveals a steady growth in publications related to social media and migrant workers. China and India emerged as the leading contributors to this field. Notable institutions include the Stockholm International Water Institute and the University of Toronto. The top 10 authors each contributed two publications on relevant themes. Thematic analysis highlighted recurring focuses on migrant communication, advocacy, identity, and support. Research collaboration networks show increasing international cooperation, although gaps in interdisciplinary approaches remain.Conclusions: The study highlights both the opportunities and challenges that social media presents for migrant workers and calls for more interdisciplinary research and inclusive digital policies to support migrant populations effectively. Given current trends, the topic is expected to remain highly relevant in the coming years.