1. Exploring the Role of Facebook in ReShaping Backpacker's Social
Interactions
Edward Alexander Berger
University of Copenhagen
Denmark
Alex@VirtualWayfarer.com
Dr. Cody Morris Paris
Middlesex University Dubai
United Arab Emirates
c.paris@mdx.ac
ENTER 2014 Research Track
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2. Then and Now
The internet has radically re-framed our
ability to keep connected to people we
meet while traveling.
Electronic communication is increasingly
present even in the case of backpackers
who were previously partially defined by
their reduced access (Bowe, 2010;
O’Regan, 2008; Steinfield et al., 2009).
Facebook aids in maintaining relationships
with other travellers. Even when that
connection is troublesome or unwanted.
ENTER 2014 Research Track
Before Sunrise, 1995
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3. Purpose
• (re) explore how Facebook has impacted
social relationships between backpackers
and their personal, professional, and
‘fellow traveller’ networks, particularly inlight of recent changes to Facebook and the
resulting reductions of anonymity while
travelling.
ENTER 2014 Research Track
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4. Key Concepts
• Backpacker
– Budget traveler, typically utilizes hostels, and is usually
between 18-35 years of age.
• Facebook Timeline (September 2011)
– Timeline = significant increase in available user data.
• Facebook Open Graph (January 2013)
– “Women from Sydney Australia named Jane studying at
Copenhagen Business School”.
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5. Literature
• Latest incarnation of research into how we define community
and the impact of electronic tools (Mascheroni, 2007; Tufecki,
2008; Urry, 2000).
• These tools have created non-geographically limited spaces
where a blended combination of “face-to-face interaction and
mediated communication, co-presence, and virtual proximity,
corporeal travel and virtual mobilities” (Mascheroni, 2007, pp
527) can occur.
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6. Online Identity and Social Behavior
• The Proteus Effect (Yee & Bailenson, 2007)
–
–
Extension of Bem‘s self-perception theory (1972)
Facebook profiles, a digital avatar, can have a very significant real world behavioural impact
and change a user's core identity.
• Front/Back Stage (Goffman, 1959)
–
In the words of Bennett and Regan the days of anonymity are fading and movement is no
longer, “a means of evading surveillance but has become the subject of surveillance” (2004, pp
453; Germann Molz, 2006).
• Social Capital (Ellision et al., 2007)
–
–
–
Facebook radically increases inter-connectedness of different social, romantic, and
professional groups adding value and probability of complication.
Allows for maintaing existing relationships over long distances.
Aids in keeping connected to weak ties.
ENTER 2014 Research Track
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7. Facebook Research
– Once added to an individual’s Facebook account, we opt into a constant co-sharing
of life events, key data, and extended interaction which allow us to take a lax, or
pro-active approach to outreach and engagement. In so doing, we also open up
elements of our existing social network to others, as they in turn grant us access to
a large cross section of their social community (Germann Molz, 2006).
– Users utilize Facebook predominantly to explore and follow their friends and
friend’s networks. The result of this surveillance leads to direct impacts on
relationships (Golder et al., 2006; Vitak, 2008).
– A majority of people’s time spent on Facebook is used for network maintenance.
Browsing profiles, photos, status updates, and keeping tabs on romantic interests
are primary aspects of user’s regular activity (Mansson & Myers, 2011; Vitak,
2008).
– Vitak found that 13% of users surveyed stated that Facebook had damaged their
relationships, an illustration of loss of social capital (2008, pp 89).
ENTER 2014 Research Track
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8. Method
Survey Design
• Survey administered through Survey Monkey.
• Questions built upon a previous survey by Berger& Paris (2013) and were supplemented based on
questions drawn from a review of the academic literature, and researcher‘s personal experience
with the backpacker community.
• The survey consisted of pre-tested demographic and likert-type (1-5) scale questions.
• Distribution was done using convenience and online snowball sampling.
• 212 useable survey responses were collected over a 10-day period in spring, 2013.
• Data was analyzed using SPSS.
Survey Distribution
• Posted to 12 Facebook backpacker themed groups (28,277 members).
• Posted to researcher‘s travel-centered twitter, and re-posted by Hostelworld and Hostelbookers
twitter accounts (50,748 total followers). Tweets used #hashtags to aid distribution.
• Based on the Facebook Group Members and Twitter followers, an imprecise response rate would be
0.2%.
Other
• Results were initially gathered as part of Berger’s Master’s Thesis research and reflect an analysis of
a subset of the data collected as part of the larger survey.
ENTER 2014 Research Track
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9. Profile
– All were Facebook users. 36% joined before 2006.
34.7% joined in 2007. Zero reported signing up
after 2012.
– 69.8% were female, 30.2% were male.
– 87.5% held University or Graduate degrees.
– 69.9% were between 23 and 32.
– 9.3% were beteen 18-22 and 11.6% were 37+.
– 40 countries represented. Predominantly from
North America and Europe.
ENTER 2014 Research Track
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10. Findings
– Two thirds of respondents use Facebook at least several times a
week while traveling.
– 23% reported that Facebook influenced their decision to join
Facebook.
– Nearly half of new connections are added within the first 12
hours. 70.9% within first several days.
– 63.7% reject friend requests based on a general dislike of an
individual while 47.3% do so based on lack of familiarity.
– More than 50% share and access photos posted by other
travelers.
– More than 75% have used Facebook to re-connect in person at
least once.
– Only 16% use custom lists to isolate travel friends from user‘s
primary social networks.
ENTER 2014 Research Track
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11. ENTER 2014 Research Track
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12. Conclusion
– Facebook is playing an increasingly essential role in facilitating and
maintaining travellers’ social relationships.
– Despite some risk to backpacker's relationships the benefits of adding
other travellers is seen as a positive opportunity to maintain lasting
relationships that were difficult, if not impossible, without Facebook.
– These benefits outweigh the occasional awkward Facebook encounter,
but also suggest that there is an increased need for individuals to
carefully engage in front-stage management of their online identities.
– Despite literature’s suggestion that individual’s awareness of being
surveilled changes behaviour (threats to social/romantic/professional
relationships), reported impact on actual behaviour is very low.
– Interconnectivity greatly increases backpackers’ social capital, but comes
with some increases in the complexity of social interactions as
backpackers are forced to pay increased attention to how they manage
their front stage personas and craft their social identities.
ENTER 2014 Research Track
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13. Next Steps
– Expand research into a double-mode survey utilizing inperson surveys and ethnographic interviews administered
online and in-person.
– Explore cultural differences, particularly for non-western
backpackers.
– Stand alone research into Facebook‘s impact on behavior in
each of the three areas of influence (social,
romantic/sexual, professional).
– Use this research to change the way we understand
socialization within the backpacker community.
– Encourage increased mobility by highlighting the increased
social connectedness available today vs. 20 years ago.
ENTER 2014 Research Track
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14. Thank You! Any Questions?
Edward Alexander Berger
University of Copenhagen
Denmark
Alex@VirtualWayfarer.com
Dr. Cody Morris Paris
Middlesex University Dubai
United Arab Emirates
c.paris@mdx.ac
ENTER 2014 Research Track
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