Digital Nomadism New places, new links?

The development of digital technologies is leading a growing number of individuals to free themselves from the constraints of localization in their activity (Kuzheleva-Sagan and Nosova, 2017). For this population, geographical proximity to the workplace is becoming superfluous: other criteria play a role in the choice of where they live. Territorial amenities and "quality of life" thus seem to play an important role. In other words, their professional activities do not force these individuals to travel, but neither do they have to remain sedentary. Whether they are solo-entrepreneurs, self-employed or salaried teleworkers, digital nomads (Makimoto and Manners, 1997; Wang et al., 2018) question the dominant paradigms concerning the location choices of both productive and recreational activities: the supposed advantages of dense territories in terms of opportunities and network externalities do not explain certain choices of peripheral location, i.e. far from major economic centers and densely populated living areas. We can thus observe deep changes in certain so-called peripheral territories (MacRae, 2016) which, in just a few years, have become references for digital nomadism, such as Bali in Indonesia, Medellin in Colombia or Chiangmai in Cambodia. Other territories, less touristic and more remote, also attract part of this population in search of exoticism. On the limit between the traditional tourist and the worker, these "independent location workers" invest in certain third places (Moriset, 2011; Oldenburg, 1989) such as coworking and coliving spaces (Schlagwein, 2018) in order to integrate peer communities. These spaces also promise them to live like a local through immersion in the local culture. From this perspective, the digital nomad is not the opposite of the resident, but can become a periodic resident in different places, depending on the quality of the Internet connection, the weather and the people met along the way (Richards, 2015). The "TERMONUTT" (Territoire et Mobilités Numériques par le Tourisme et le Travail) research project proposes to study the apparent paradox between digital nomads who, a priori, can free themselves from any form of anchoring to a place of production (the office) but who, through their practices of temporary hybrid mobility (work, home, leisure/tourism), favor particular locations. The project consists in characterizing and analyzing this new form of hybrid mobility, a research subject that is still poorly scientifically studied. In particular, the perception, representation and use of the territory by these populations will be questioned. On what criteria are the destinations chosen? To what extent are the territory and its specificities mobilized (territory as a simple bubble without contact with the outside world or territory as a provider of resources)? Thus, the research also questions the community dimension of these "Fourth places" and their articulation with local populations and actors on the one hand and with the emergence of peer communities on the other hand (exchange of practices, synergy, sense of belonging).