In the lead-up to the recent surge of migrants arriving in Europe, a brief Instagram video went viral, amassing 1.4 million views. The video depicted a young man partially submerged in water, followed by a view of land in the distance with a map outlining a sea route from Fnideq, Morocco, to Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in Africa. The video’s account holder later claimed arrival in the comments section.
Numerous posts on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok played a role in mobilizing two waves of irregular migration from Morocco to Ceuta. These posts were part of various online communities that focus on migration-related culture, utilizing music, memes, and imagery. Some of these accounts seemed to exploit the aspirations of African and Middle Eastern youth seeking better opportunities abroad.
There is a debate among governments and organizations regarding whether a single entity orchestrated the events in Ceuta or if migration was manipulated for geopolitical purposes. However, it is evident that misinformation, spread across multiple online communities, contributed to driving the waves of migration toward Ceuta during the summer.
A visual investigations team, supported by Sebastian Vandermeersch of Bellingcat, identified several social media accounts, particularly on Instagram, that were active before the first wave on July 30. Misinformation suggesting that Spain would no longer reject migrants arriving by sea due to a court ruling triggered a surge in posts. This led to over 72,000 people crossing the border on July 30, overwhelming authorities in Ceuta and sparking a political crisis in Europe.
While the majority of migrants who crossed in July have returned to Morocco, around 5,000 individuals remain in Ceuta, with some living on a beach with assistance from charities. Tragically, nearly 100 people lost their lives attempting the crossing.
The surge in social media activity over the past month, as tracked by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, highlights how misinformation and manipulation can have tangible consequences when targeted at individuals seeking solutions in desperate situations. Various social media accounts directed followers to WhatsApp groups where they planned crossings and shared information on reaching Ceuta.
Following the events of July 30, Meta and TikTok collaborated to fact-check posts to prevent criminal organizations from exploiting misinformation for profit. Despite these efforts, a new wave of posts emerged ahead of August 15, promoting it as another opportunity to enter Spain. The accounts involved in mobilizing the July 30 crossing, along with new ones, were active in the days leading up to August 15.
Moroccan and Spanish authorities were prepared for the August 15 attempt, deploying thousands of police on both sides of the border. The Moroccan state broadcaster reported the arrest of nearly 300 migrants that Saturday.
The online surge was fueled by the fact that an increasing number of migrants had successfully reached Ceuta even before the Spanish court ruling. The Mixed Migration Centre noted that Ceuta had become a popular entry point into Spain, with more than 2,200 people entering by land by the end of May, three times the previous year’s figure.
While social media played a role in shaping misinformation, Bram Frouws, director of the Mixed Migration Centre, emphasized that social media did not create the desire to migrate; it merely amplified existing aspirations. Many of the social media accounts identified by CBC reflected the disillusionment and desperation prevalent among young people in North Africa and beyond, using imagery and language that glorified migration.
With Ceuta and Melilla being the only land borders between Africa and a European country, accounts originating from North African countries, Italy, and Turkey promoted European destinations without explicitly offering a means to get there. These accounts appealed to individuals facing high unemployment rates and political disenfranchisement, portraying migration as a pathway to opportunity.
Influencer-style accounts with themes of departure accumulated thousands of followers, showcasing images related to migration. Despite attempts to contact accounts associated with the July 30 and August 15 waves, CBC received no response.