Home and Belonging in Digital Nomad Culture as a New Lifestyle: The Backpacked Home

Authors : Sena Biliş Özgün, Demet Mutman Uluengin

Pages : 329-348

Doi:10.26835/my.1651480

View : 119 | Download : 121

Publication Date : 2025-08-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Lifestyles worldwide are evolving in response to technological innovations, the information age, and large-scale disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic, earthquakes, wars, and economic crises. This study examines the emergence of new-nomad, digital nomad, and modern nomad lifestyles by building upon the traditional notion of nomadism, focusing on how individuals navigate concepts of root, rootlessness, and rooting within urban ecosystems. Employing a thorough descriptive approach that integrates a comprehensive literature review with official statistical data, the research centers on understanding the ways in which digital nomads’ flexibility and adaptability influence urban spaces and shape urban resilience. Istanbul, with its rich historical layers and diverse migration experiences, serves as a compelling case study. Through theoretical synthesis and comparative analysis of the findings, the study demonstrates that digital nomads embrace practices that expand global perceptions of space, reframe the notion of belonging, and transcend conventional ideas of fixed residence. Consequently, digital nomadism introduces fresh perspectives on “home” in the urban context, underscoring how flexible and adaptive strategies can both bolster urban resilience and, in certain contexts, pose new challenges. Overall, this research highlights how digital nomads are reshaping contemporary cities, prompting policymakers and stakeholders to consider innovative ways of fostering inclusivity and resilience.
Keywords : Göçebe, Dijital Göçebe, Aidiyet, Ev, Kent Ekosistemi

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