‘Weapons of the weak?’: Digital resistance practices of sub-Saharan migrants in Ariana, Tunisia

This article addresses the digital resistance strategies of sub-Saharan migrants living in Ariana, Tunisia. It illustrates how social media and online communication tools help them face their inhospitable world. To reach these findings, I conducted twelve semi-structured interviews and performed a thematic analysis of the transcripts for the sake of uncovering how these migrants use their smartphones and social media platforms to gather information about their migratory project. Drawing on James C. Scott’s concept of ‘everyday forms of resistance’, this article shows how sub-Saharan migrants assert agency in response to hindrances, yet without directly engaging with Tunisian citizens or authorities. The article highlights information exchange, solidarity building and selective online exposure among sub-Saharan migrants hampered by unfamiliarity with the host country’s languages, racism and economic marginalization. Through the investigation of how digital technology is employed by these migrants towards manifesting ‘subtle resistance’, the current study addresses an important gap in the literature and contributes to scholarly debates on the significance of digital technologies for south-to-south migration.