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

Jennie Germann Molz, Cody Morris Paris
2013 Mobilities  
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 article introduces the practice of 'flashpacking' to describe this emerging trend and interrogates the patterns of connection and disconnection that become possible as corporeal
more » ... el 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
doi:10.1080/17450101.2013.848605 fatcat:ar6f7rnvjfbsbo7ljybjvs57ri