Extended Response #6: The True Cost of Digital Nomadism
Last year, Darcie Imbert asked me how social media has be involved with the rise of Digital Nomadism, here's my full response.
Read Darcie’s Atmos Article “‘The True Cost of Digital Nomadism” here
Q: My POV on Digital Nomads
Digital Nomads are an echo of the imperial practices of the past. Often, participants see the “economic prosperity” they induce on a habitat as so positive that it validates living wherever they fancy. Truly, funnelling in money isn’t all positive. Nomads, expats and tourists should consider whether they have disrupted a system that is wonderful in its own right and doesn't necessarily need economic validation from the world. Yes, despite what today's “gods” say, some places don’t need to care about the economy.
Q: How has Social Media supported the Digital Nomad lifestyle?
I often see TikTok as the reality check Instagram needed, and it applies here. The 'pristine' golden era of Instagram has eroded. Perfect postings of paradise and the romanticising of 'The place you have to go to next #travelporn' by travel influencers and digital nomads, as defined on Instagram, won’t receive the engagement rates they used to. TikTok has both stalled and cannibalized the pristine content that once dominated Instagram.
Stalled, as TikTok’s Gen Z user base will call out the problematic nature of Westerners and the wealthy romanticising capitalistic moves to inexpensive paradises. That is the beauty of TikTok, Gen Z will anchor morality to problematic content through the comment section. Nothing is media spin, everything is public discourse.
Cannibalized, as TikTok added actionability. TikTokers go deeper than aspirational images of dream locations; they set relatable emotional-situational contexts - 'Doesn't your life suck right now? Work in digital and move to paradise!'. Moreover, the content is functional, providing quick guides like 'Here are 5 easy steps to living your dream life in Mexico City,' delivered in a 10-second clickbait video.
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With Digital Nomad content on TikTok being aspirational, emotional, situational, and functional, it has a potent effect on Gen Z’s career aspirations. No longer is working abroad limited to a small few in the startup world or MNCs; it has become a viral vocation for the dissociative and 'quiet quitting' youth of the day—well, that’s if you’re privileged enough to act on it
What needs to be recognized in #digitalnomad posts is who’s talking and what they’re saying. More often than not, creators are affluent white Western individuals who have already moved to [insert LEDC/MIC here], teaching others to join them. Rarely do we witness those native to the nation requesting nomads. As for what is being said in Nomader’s posts, it’s often a listicle of the economic and individual benefits explaining why 'you should just become a digital nomad!', plus a sunset or two.
Creators rarely ask their host nation what they think or how they benefit from the nomad community. It’s an online swirl of Western privilege that is validated through fulfilling the Western doctrine that 'if you support the/a economy, you’re great!' and that travel is a means to personal growth. I believe it’s not worldly; it’s usually an inconsiderate disruption of social and economic ecosystems.
In sum, social media has and is catalysing digital nomadism. The golden age of Instagram convinced Millenial to do it, and as Gen Z deeply rejects Capitalistic Western working grinds these paradise-located alternatives are appealing. However, rigorous critique of digital nomadism UGC in comment sections and witty clapbacks stitchbacks to the privilege in it all is turning people off.
What I hope is that before posting up overseas, digital nomads reflect on the negative fallout they have. TikTok should only start the reality check, people need to realise that they will dominate space and resources, even if they try not to, and that affluent Western interception does change these places forever and maybe foe the worse.
End of Questions!
That’s enough from me, time to read Read Darcie’s Atom’s Article “The True Cost of Digital Nomadism” here
till the next time i start typing…
lol, emily chapps :)