This paper explores the psychological implications of digital technology use among African transnational families, highlighting how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) shape emotional connectivity, identity, and relational connections across borders. Since the rise of the internet in the 1990s, scholars have envisioned a "death of distance" and research has increasingly shown how ICTs enable migrant families to maintain intimacy, support, and a sense of togetherness despite geographic separation.


Drawing on qualitative data from a interdisciplinary project exploring the experiences of transnational African migrants, this paper will highlight how ICTs offer vital psychological support—reducing isolation, reinforcing belonging, and transforming the experience of migration, while at the same time they also expose deep inequalities. Participants in the study reported that without digital tools, their family networks would be severely diminished. Yet, access to these tools remains unequal, migrants from lower socio-economic backgrounds often rely on outdated mobile phones with limited functionality, highlighting a persistent digital divide. These disparities complicate the assumption that all migrants benefit equally from digital connectivity.


By foregrounding these psychological and structural dynamics, the paper argues that digital inclusion must be recognized as a core component of well-managed migration policy, as envisioned in SDG 10, Target 10.7. Addressing digital inequality is not only a technological concern but a psychological imperative—essential for fostering safe, responsible, and emotionally sustainable migration experiences. The paper calls for applied psychological frameworks that integrate digital access into migration support systems, ensuring that all transnational families can thrive in a digitally mediated world.