“And Only the Internet Remains…”: Social Media's Role in Building Social Capital Among Migrant Students

This article presents a case study of students in Poland, comparing internal and international student migrants in how they form and maintain different types of social capital, including the development of trust, the maintenance of ties with their communities of origin, and the establishment of new relationships within the host society. Based on in‐depth individual interviews, the study shows that strategies for maintaining transnational connections and forming local networks vary considerably across groups. The findings highlight the influence of contextual factors, such as the character of the diaspora, patterns of social media use, and proficiency in the host‐country language on the ways digital practices support or hinder social capital formation. Across all groups, respondents expressed distrust toward strangers online and caution regarding new acquaintances and information encountered on digital platforms. Although participation in online groups provides a sense of community, the relationships formed within them tend to be superficial, marked by limited trust and a tendency to remain within migrant circles, which restricts the development of bridging networks with the host community. While asynchronous communication can create a temporary sense of closeness, sustaining such relationships requires active engagement and maintaining contact beyond online platforms. At the same time, ties that endured despite distance and time were often accorded particularly high value, with their ability to survive digital mediation viewed as evidence of their strength.