The migration of refugees fleeing from Syria and the Middle East has been recorded as the largest flow of migrants in Europe since WWII. You may be asking yourself how such a large flux of refugees are finding their way through foreign land’s boarder patrols like Greece and Hungary with increased tension in Europe and tightening rules and regulations. The answer is simple. It is the same way we find out if there are flight delays after a storm or road block near campus, SOCIAL MEDIA.

Most of the migrants are not traveling alone blindly, they have created networks with refugees who have already achieved asylum, are on their journey to seek asylum, and also those who are in the process of fleeing their war-torn country. Social media networks have become their community, providing caution, advice, guidance, and reassurance.

A network of over 800,000 migrants has been forced to abandon their homes in Syria and set out on journeys through Greece, Hungry, Austria, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden to seek shelter, opportunity, and asylum. After trying journeys, thousands of refugees have found shelter in neighboring countries and are now reaching out to their loved ones through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to caution them on the journey and provide advice about what countries are accepting and which to avoid, with hopes of being reunited.

According to the Wall Street Journal, A Syrian refugee, Delshad Bashar, seeking asylum in Germany for his family knew to avoid traveling through Budapest at all costs because “word had spread on Facebook” about its police brutality and strict border control. Bashar explained his brother and friends, already given asylum in Germany, advised him to do and pay whatever he needed to, to avoid Budapest (Pop).

Constant live updates of the crisis and how other countries are handling security and border control is not only valuable information for refugees but also for volunteers trying to assist their needs. The ability to communicate and access information immediately provides the opportunity for immediate relief and assistance. Relief systems all over Europe are coming together, attempting to provide necessary food, water, and shelter for the overwhelming number of refugees crossing their borders. Surprisingly, regardless of relief efforts, many migrants are extending their brutal journeys even further north past Austria to seek shelter in Sweden and Germany. Why? Because Facebook said so! Social media has become the hope and motivation that seems to be pushing these asylum seekers, forward (to the north).

A refugee told the New York Times that she was anticipating a long gruesome journey, but would not stop until she made it to Sweden because friends and family who had already made the journey communicated to her through Facebook and over Twitter of better opportunities and acceptance.

CNN is now calling the new wave of migrants in Europe as “Facebook Refugees”. The use of Facebook, Whatsapp, and Twitter are the tools and GPS systems that are guiding these migrants and preparing them for what is to come.

Is Facebook the network platform that is connecting refugees to each other most? Let us know what you think!

Want to know more about the migrant crisis? Read Five things you need to know about the European migrant crisis. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2015/09/10/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-european-migrant-crisis/