How Social Media Affects Traveling

Created on 31st January 2023

Conference: The Asian Undergraduate Research Symposium (AURS10)
Title: How Social Media Affects Traveling
Stream: Media, Film Studies, Theatre, Communication
Presentation Type: Virtual Poster Presentation
Authors:
Ga Hyun Choi, University of Utah, United States

Abstract:

From communicating instantaneously internationally to making information more accessible, social media changed our lives a lot. But travel has been completely transformed by social media. Social media has become an integral part of travel, from watching blogs to preview potential locations to finding the best restaurants by reading blogs. Also, people can book their hotel and reserve activities at once. This helps people to travel easier and more actively. This paper showcases the positive changes that the development of social media has had on traveling by exploring workcations, new jobs, and how to travel at home. More specifically, social media has created opportunities for individuals to earn money by traveling and uploading their reviews, pictures, or stories. In addition to creating new opportunities for the office worker, social media has created a new genre of travel where people combine work and vacation called a workcation. During this unique type of travel, individuals work using social media and the internet from a destination out of their comfort zone. Of course, only some have access to travel or the ability to leave their home or home country. However, social media offers new ways to experience travel, including watching someone else travel in a Netflix series, such as ‘Somebody Feed Phil’, and ‘Welcome, First time in Korea?’ or through VR. However, this is only the beginning of the impact Social Media is having on travel. Nevertheless, by examining the current impact, the new and evolved travel industry can be better understood and utilized.