In the days leading up to the recent surge of migrants arriving in Europe, a brief video shared on Instagram reached 1.4 million views. The video depicted a young man submerged in water up to his neck, with a map illustrating a sea route from Fnideq, Morocco, to Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa. The account holder later claimed “we’ve arrived” in response to comments.
This video was among several viral posts on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok that seemed to mobilize two waves of irregular migration from Morocco to Ceuta. The most recent attempt on August 15 resulted in numerous arrests.
These accounts are part of online communities focused on migration-related content such as music, memes, and imagery, with some exploiting the aspirations of African and Middle Eastern youth seeking better opportunities abroad.
While there is controversy surrounding whether a single entity orchestrated the events in Ceuta or if migration was manipulated for geopolitical purposes, it is evident that misinformation propagated by various online communities played a significant role in driving the migration waves.
CBC’s visual investigations team, in collaboration with Sebastian Vandermeersch from Bellingcat, identified multiple social media accounts, particularly on Instagram, that were active before the initial wave on July 30. Misinformation suggesting that Spain would no longer reject migrants arriving by sea following a court ruling sparked a surge in posts, leading to over 72,000 people crossing the border that day.
Although the majority of those who crossed in July have returned to Morocco, around 5,000 individuals remain in Ceuta, with some living on a beach aided by charitable organizations. The tragic loss of nearly 100 lives occurred during these crossings.
The surge in social media activity over the past month, as tracked by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, underscores how misinformation can impact real-world events when disseminated across online platforms targeting those seeking answers in desperate situations.
Various social media accounts directed users to WhatsApp chats to plan crossings and shared guidance on reaching Ceuta. Some accounts even offered advice for a fee, while a BBC reporter engaged with anonymous accounts that promised entry tips for money upfront.
Following the July 30 incident, Meta and TikTok collaborated to fact-check posts to combat criminal organizations exploiting migrants through misinformation. However, new posts promoting a “window” for entry into Spain emerged before August 15, with familiar accounts from the previous crossing and new ones created leading up to that date.
Reports indicate that hundreds attempted to reach the border on August 15, prompting Moroccan and Spanish authorities to deploy thousands of police, resulting in nearly 300 arrests. Authorities monitored social media posts encouraging the crossing and vowed to take action against those responsible.
The online surge was fueled by previous successful migrant entries into Ceuta, making it a desirable destination. While social media played a role in shaping misinformation, the underlying desire to migrate existed independently. Accounts identified by CBC reflected the disillusionment and desperation of young people in North Africa and beyond.
With high unemployment rates and limited opportunities, the surge in migration-related messaging can resonate as a call to action for many individuals. Accounts originating from North African countries like Morocco and Algeria, as well as Italy and Turkey, promote migration aspirations without explicitly offering means for travel.
Themes of departure and opportunity are prevalent in influencer-style accounts attracting thousands of followers. Despite attempts to contact accounts associated with the migration waves, no responses were received.