“E-migrantes” e as redes sociais digitais na construção de um espaço transnacional: o caso dos peruanos em Portugal

This article seeks to understand the influence of digital social networks (DSN) in the daily lives of immigrants. Furthermore, it is intended to know how these practices contribute to the construction of a transnational space, considering that this expression refers to the maintenance of ties between the immigrants and their country of origin, as well as the formation of links with their compatriots also living abroad. The article recurs to the concept of “e-migrants” to refer to those who, using information and communication technologies (ICT), remain connected to each other and to their homelands. It has been chosen to analyse the Peruvian migrants residing in Portugal as an empirical case. The research problem was then the following: How does the Peruvian community use the DSNs? Therefore, the article focuses on the practices that arise from the appropriation of digital platforms — namely, the construction of virtual communities — using a mixed methodology: the analysis of a set of semi-structured interviews, an online survey and statistical data regarding DSNs use.