Does online co-presence increase spatial flexibility? On social media and young people’s migration considerations

Abstract

The Internet facilitates new practices of social interaction at a distance, enabling online co-presence and potentially relaxing social constraints on geographical mobility. Conceptualizing the role of online co-presence, we examine whether and how Internet-based social contacts influence young people’s pre-migration considerations and decision making. Empirically, we use survey data on 750 Swedish young adults and a follow-up study comprising 24 in-depth interviews. The main findings suggest that interregional migration is becoming less costly to the individual in social terms. Survey data indicate that extensive online contacts relax respondents’ perceived need for geographical proximity to family and friends. The qualitative study differentiates the implications of online co-presence: for some interviewees, online interaction reinforces thoughts of migration – either permanent or temporary – and increases perceived spatial flexibility and choice. For others, it can never really compensate for spatial proximity to family and friends.

Keywords

• migration
• mobility
• proximity
• communication network
• social network
• social interaction