Abstract Book of the 9th World Conference on Social Sciences
Year: 2025
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Acculturation In the Digital Sphere: Virtual Social Identity as A Buffer Against Marginalization
Anastasia Kitiashvili
ABSTRACT:
This study examines the role of virtual social identity in shaping the acculturation experiences of young Georgian migrants living in Canada. The research is based on fifteen in-depth interviews with Georgian youth residing in Quebec, conducted in March 2025. The interviews explored participants’ physical and digital identities, their perceptions of belonging, and their everyday interactions with Canadian culture.
Findings reveal a complex duality in how virtual identity operates during the acculturation process. Thematic analysis indicates that digital platforms serve as an important psychological buffer, helping participants cope with emotional challenges such as displacement, stress, and social isolation. Virtual connections with friends and relatives in Georgia provided stability, continuity, and emotional reassurance during the early phases of adaptation.
However, the reliance on virtual social identity also introduced significant risks. Excessive dependence on digital networks contributed to detachment from the physical environment, reduced engagement with local communities, and occasional fragmentation of identity. Strong ties to online Georgian networks—while emotionally comforting—sometimes hindered participants’ integration into Canadian society. Integration difficulties were further reinforced by contextual factors, including limited familiarity with local norms, insufficient French-language proficiency, low participation in social activities, unstable employment, and disrupted involvement in formal education.
Overall, the results highlight the need to conceptualize acculturation as a process that increasingly unfolds across both physical and digital spheres. The study underscores the importance of developing targeted interventions that support young migrants in balancing virtual belonging with active participation in the host society during the initial settlement phase.
Keywords: Migration; Acculturation; Virtual Social Identity; Young Georgian Migrants in Canada