In an age of digital media and greater mobility, migration sits at the centre of public debate. It is also one of the fields most exposed to disinformation. Between rumour, exaggeration and political manipulation, ‘toxic imaginaries’ take shape that steer perceptions, feed fears and shape migration policy. Here is a closer look at a phenomenon with deep consequences.
Migration disinformation is not just a matter of slips or rough approximations. It often runs through organised campaigns, in which certain narratives get amplified to serve political, economic or ideological ends. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), false stories about migrants circulate massively on social media, often around themes such as ‘migrant invasion’ or the ‘excessive cost’ of migrants.
These narratives frequently rest on data torn from context or on sweeping generalisations. Take the idea that Africa is a continent ‘in exodus towards Europe’. The figures largely contradict it: around 80% of African migration takes place within the continent, according to the IOM and the African Union Commission (2020).
Roots of toxic imaginaries
Toxic imaginaries do not appear from nowhere. Several interlocking forces produce them.
Oversimplifying migration. Migration is complex, shaped by economic, political, climatic and social forces. Yet public debate tends to reduce it to simplistic causes, such as poverty or the ‘search for an El Dorado’.
Social media and algorithms. Digital platforms reward emotional, polarising content. A study by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism finds that false information spreads faster than verified information, especially when it stirs fear or outrage.
Political instrumentalisation. In several contexts, politics turns migration into a lever. Political actors amplify certain narratives to rally opinion or to justify restrictive policies. The phrase ‘migration crisis’ sometimes gets used loosely, with little regard for the actual data.
Perceptions cut off from reality
Toxic imaginaries often grow from a gap between perception and fact. In several European countries, for instance, people vastly overestimate how many migrants live among them. A study by Ipsos shows that the overestimate can reach double, or even triple, the real figure.
The belief that most migrants live in an irregular situation is false too. Most migrants worldwide hold a regular status, according to United Nations data.
Impact on migrants and societies
The effects of this disinformation are many, and troubling.
First comes stigmatisation and discrimination. Many people see migrants as a threat, which fuels hate speech and discriminatory acts. It can shut migrants out of work, housing and social services.
Governments can then take decisions on the back of false perceptions rather than reliable data. The result is sometimes ineffective, even counterproductive.
Migrants themselves can suffer under these negative narratives and come to feel rejected or unsafe.
Role of media and information actors
The media do much to build or dismantle migration narratives. According to UNESCO, responsible coverage must rest on verified data, set information in context and give migrants a voice.
But the pressure of speed and audience can tip coverage towards the sensational. Hence the value of fact-checking, which holds claims up against the facts. This is precisely the role Dialogue Migration plays through its fact-checking work.
Towards better understanding of migration
To push back against toxic imaginaries, we need stronger media literacy. Learning to spot false information and to check sources is essential, above all among the young.
We must also value reliable data. Bodies such as the IOM, the World Bank and research institutes produce accessible figures that public debate should draw on far more.
And we must promote alternative narratives that highlight what migrants contribute, economically, socially and culturally, so that perceptions come back into balance.
