Social computing applications as a resource for newly arrived refugees in Kronoberg, Sweden

Abstract

Purpose

European countries face the crucial challenge of integrating newly arrived refugees into society. The purpose of this paper is to explore the feasibility of using e-government services developed by local authorities, as well as NGOs, to support integration processes by analyzing migrants’ perceptions of the utility, usability and efficacy of social computing applications and their impact on integration.

Design/methodology/approach

A random sample of 67 newly arrived refugees in Kronoberg County, Sweden, responded to a questionnaire in English, Swedish and Arabic comprising 26 questions covering six central domains (employment, housing, education, health, citizenship and m-government/information and communication technology for refugees).

Findings

The successful design and implementation of digital solutions to address social issues or organizational needs are best achieved through collaboration among public, private and academic institutions. The potential use of social computing applications and online services as a resource to support refugee integration processes is determined by people’s preferences and skills when using digital devices. Moreover, newcomers have negative perceptions of online services and sharing personal information because of a lack of confidence and mistrust of social computing applications.

Research limitations/implications

Findings cannot necessarily be extrapolated to Sweden as a whole, or to other European countries, owing to the Swedish government’s determination to devolve decision-making over certain refugee-related issues to the county and municipal levels, and to various European digital ecosystems.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the analysis of the utility and efficacy of e-government services to integrate newly arrived refugees. This paper points to future improvements in social computing applications and shows the potential of public and third-sector institutions to facilitate the integration of new refugee communities and improve their quality of life.

Citation

García Alonso, R., Thoene, U. and Dávila Benavides, D. (2021), "Social computing applications as a resource for newly arrived refugees in Kronoberg, Sweden", Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 21-44. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPRG-05-2020-0063