Travelers’ sharing behaviors on the internet: Case of Taiwan - Theory and Practice in Hospitality and Tourism Research - page 326

munication space for the expression of both social
mobility and privatization that means individuals
can upload private files but they also can interact
with others cross the boundary in this virtual space.
This virtual space creates a stage on which travelers
can perform their travel experiences, and construct
themselves. Studies (i.e., Bortree, 2005; Boyd &
Ellison, 2008) show that blogs are effective in pro-
ducing self-presentation because an individual can
display various types of online activities such as. In
addition to self-presentation, the blogs and social
media are also a platform for identity formation
through social construction.

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5 CONCLUSION

This present study was aimed at in-depth under-
standing of travelers' online sharing behaviors. The
present study addressed three key sets of findings:
(a) social connections-building up social tie and
relations with family members and friends who
were far away; sense of togetherness with friends
during journeys; keeping connections with friends;
(b) conspicuous consumption-showing off unique
or luxurious travel experiences; and (c) identity for-
mation—constructing self-identity through social
interaction on personal blogs and social media.
Studies (e.g., Strano, 2008; Trammell & Keshe-
lashvili, 2005) suggest that young people, in particu-
lar, use online media to present and manipulate a
desirable self-image. The demographic profiles of
participants in the present study were similar to
those who participated in other research on tour-
ists, backpackers and interactive travelers (O'Reilly,
2006; White & White, 2007). The travelers in this
study were young, professionals, middle class or
students who hold passports to travel around the
world. Race, class, and nationality present the desire
to travel the world, enable travelers' reach to mobil-
ity, and shape their communication practices (Molz,
2012). In other words, these travelers in this study
had high cultural and economic capitals because
they were capable to interact with far-reaching peo-
ple using the technology. Furthermore, sharing travel
experiences on the Internet may play a significant
role in identity construction or re-construction.
Traditionally, studies on tourism tend to investi-
gate travel experiences that are subject to time and
space. The increasing number of people sharing
and posting their travel experiences on the Inter-
net charts possible directions for researchers to
extend study by considering the popular use of
the Internet. Systematic observation and analysis
of travelers' online sharing behaviors through their
personal blogs and social media can help us under-
stand the construction and communication of an
individual's travel experiences.