“As the distances are getting closer, our hearts are moving farther”: the Sociological Implications of Transnational ICTs use on the Socio-Cultural Integration of Immigrants

This paper examines the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on the process of sociocultural integration of immigrants into the receiving countries. By focussing particularly on the context of Turkish immigrants in the UK, it aims to answer the questions of how the increasing level of communication and contact has influence the socio-cultural integration into the local life in the UK. Through a qualitative conduct, this research found that the participants regard ICTs as the tools for creating social bridges with the members of different groups. However, interestingly enough, a salient emphasis among the participants argues that the online contact with the social ties in the homeland trivialises the significance of pre-migration social ties, which eventually leads to the lesser degree of online contact with the people in Turkey. Additionally, it is found that the participants are strategically consuming and re-producing the cultural codes of Turkey, and articulating their senses of belongings by referring to individualised reference points. It is clear out of the data that participants utilise ICTs for making everyday life easier and the majority are eager to use the up-to-date technology of ICTs in order to maximise the benefits in their lives. Overall, this research found an increasing level of individualism and particularism in terms of sociality, identity, cultural codes and re-formation of everyday life. Considering these findings, this research discusses that the concept of integration should be revisited and elucidated since it remains inadequate in understanding these multiple life trajectories. Furthermore, since the socio-cultural implications of immigrants’ ICTs use are characterised by the individuality, temporality and hybridity, further research of which focal points different contexts and social settings is encouraged