In the days leading up to one of the largest influxes of migrants to Europe in recent years, a brief video shared on Instagram captured the attention of 1.4 million viewers. The video depicted a young man partially submerged in water with a view of land in the distance, accompanied by a map outlining a sea route from Fnideq, Morocco, to Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa. The account holder later responded to comments claiming “we’ve arrived.”
This video was just one of many viral posts on platforms like Instagram and TikTok that seemed to play a role in organizing at least two waves of irregular migration from Morocco to Ceuta. The most recent attempt on August 15 resulted in numerous arrests.
These social media accounts are part of a larger network focused on migration-related content, including music, memes, and imagery. Some of these accounts seem to be capitalizing on the aspirations of young individuals from Africa and the Middle East seeking better opportunities abroad.
There is ongoing debate among governments and organizations about whether a singular entity orchestrated the events in Ceuta or if migration was exploited for political purposes. What is evident is that misinformation, amplified across various online communities, contributed to the surge of migrants towards Ceuta this summer.
CBC’s visual investigations team, in collaboration with Sebastian Vandermeersch from Bellingcat, identified multiple active social media accounts, particularly on Instagram, before the initial wave on July 30. This surge in posts was triggered by misinformation suggesting that a Spanish court ruling would no longer turn away sea arrivals, leading faceless accounts to propagate the idea of a feasible crossing, resulting in millions of views.
The aftermath of the July 30 crossing saw over 72,000 individuals entering Ceuta, causing chaos and sparking a political crisis in Europe. While most have since returned to Morocco, approximately 5,000 remain in Ceuta, with some living on a beach supported by charitable organizations. Tragically, nearly 100 people lost their lives attempting the crossing.
This situation highlights the tangible impact of misinformation when disseminated through online platforms to individuals seeking solutions. Social media played a crucial role in directing individuals towards WhatsApp groups for planning crossings and providing guidance.
Following the events of July 30, Meta and TikTok collaborated to fact-check posts to prevent criminal exploitation of misinformation for profit. However, a new wave of posts emerged before August 15, promoting it as another opportunity for entry into Spain. Some accounts involved in the July 30 crossing were disabled, but new accounts emerged, creating anticipation for the next potential crossing.
The online surge was further fueled by the success stories of migrants reaching Ceuta even before the court ruling. Ceuta had become a favored entry point into Spain, with the exact reasons for this shift remaining unclear. While social media played a role in shaping the narrative, the desire to migrate was already present, influenced by high unemployment rates and limited opportunities in their home countries.
Accounts on social media platforms seemed to resonate with the disillusionment and desperation of young individuals in North Africa and beyond. These accounts depicted migration as a valorized endeavor, resonating with those seeking better prospects.
As desperation continues to drive individuals towards migration, especially through Ceuta and Melilla, the only land borders between Africa and Europe, accounts from North African countries like Morocco and Algeria, as well as Italy and Turkey, promote aspirational messages without directly selling migration services.
These accounts use symbols and phrases hinting at European destinations, appealing to the aspirations of their audience. The use of hashtags referencing European countries and themes of departure attract thousands of followers, perpetuating the allure of migration.
Despite attempts to reach out to accounts involved in the July 30 and August 15 events, there has been no response.
