Facebook and Travel Mobility: The Interrelation between Social Network Services and Physical Travel and Its Possible Implications for the Future

Seminar paper from the year 2012 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Economic Geography, grade: 1,0, University of Frankfurt (Main) (Institut für Humangeographie), course: Mobilität 2.0 - Soziale Veränderungen und Zukunft der Mobilität, language: English, abstract: In an era of information and communication technologies, imaginative and virtual travel have not substituted physical travel but resulted in a network society of multiple mobilities. People are increasingly mobile for maintaining their professional and private social relationships in intermittent face-to-face meetings. So far, we do not know much about the interrelation between travel mobility and social network services (SNSs). With the example of Facebook as the dominating, undisputed SNS of 845 million monthly active users, I will argue how 'place'-focused features are put under the spotlight of Facebook users' activities and perceived character. As a platform combining various services, tools, and applications also of third parties, Facebook can influence its users' mobility habits and expectations of physical traveling. This brings with it important implications for research and practice, since foremostly young generations are concerned and will thus influence future developments.