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The Social Affordances of Flashpacking: Exploring the Mobility Nexus of Travel and Communication

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  • Jennie Germann Molz
  • Cody Morris Paris

Abstract

The proliferation of digital devices and online social media and networking technologies has altered the backpacking landscape in recent years. Thanks to the ready availability of online communication, travelers are now able to stay in continuous touch with friends, family and other travelers while on the move. This paper introduces the practice of 'flashpacking' to describe this emerging trend and interrogates the patterns of connection and disconnection that become possible as corporeal travel and social technologies converge. Drawing on the concepts of 'assemblages' and 'affordances,' we outline several aspects of this new sociality: virtual mooring, following, collaborating, and (dis)connecting. The conclusion situates this discussion alongside broader questions about the shifting nature of social life in an increasingly mobile and mediated world and suggests directions for future research at the intersection of tourism and technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennie Germann Molz & Cody Morris Paris, 2015. "The Social Affordances of Flashpacking: Exploring the Mobility Nexus of Travel and Communication," Mobilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(2), pages 173-192, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:rmobxx:v:10:y:2015:i:2:p:173-192
    DOI: 10.1080/17450101.2013.848605
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    Cited by:

    1. Gong, Yaqi & Schroeder, Ashley & Plaisance, Patrick Lee, 2023. "Digital detox tourism: An Ellulian critique," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    2. Inge Hermann & Cody Morris Paris, 2020. "Digital Nomadism: the nexus of remote working and travel mobility," Information Technology & Tourism, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 329-334, September.
    3. Wee-Kheng Tan & Pin-Ho Liou, 2020. "Analysis of the relationship between the perceived extent of a tourist destination and smartphone use," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 14(2), pages 263-285, June.
    4. Sirong Chen & Rob Law & Shaogui Xu & Mu Zhang, 2020. "Bibliometric and Visualized Analysis of Mobile Technology in Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-16, September.
    5. Adrian Tanti & Dimitrios Buhalis, 2017. "The influences and consequences of being digitally connected and/or disconnected to travellers," Information Technology & Tourism, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 121-141, March.
    6. Kannisto, Päivi, 2016. "Extreme mobilities: Challenging the concept of ‘travel’," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 220-233.
    7. Adrian Tanti & Dimitrios Buhalis, 0. "The influences and consequences of being digitally connected and/or disconnected to travellers," Information Technology & Tourism, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-21.
    8. Kirillova, Ksenia & Wang, Dan, 2016. "Smartphone (dis)connectedness and vacation recovery," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 157-169.

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