Influence of social networks on the process of socio-cultural adaptation of young migrants in Italy

This study is based on a research project called “Vie di uscita. Storie di scatti e di vita” which is organized by the department of comparative linguistic cultural studies at the university of Cà Foscari in Venice (Banzato, 2025). Driven by a similar academic purpose, this thesis investigates two important elements that can influence socio - cultural adaptation of immigrants: the role of social networks and the level of intercultural sensitivity. In the specific case of this study, the target population consists of 22 young students in an educational institution, located in the northeastern part of Italy, more precisely in the Veneto region. To provide an accurate overview of how digital platforms influence young immigrants’ integration, the analysis focuses on the relevance of the following social media functions: Interaction, information, participation, production, language learning and the use of translating instruments. Furthermore, the levels of intercultural sensitivity that will be taken into account are the ones related to Bennett’s model: negation, defense, minimization, acceptance, adaptation and integration. The chosen method of research is the questionnaire, which is one of the quantitative instruments that was employed in the research project just mentioned.