The paper Digital Nomads and Settler Desires: Racial Fantasies of Silicon Valley Imperialism highlights how “digital nomads” is simply a new term for settlers within another colonial system. Oftentimes, we believe that gentrification is something new, but in reality, it is just another name for imperialism or colonialism. With that in mind, Silicon Valley promotes the idea that technology—along with platforms like Airbnb—creates more freedom, similar to the ideas of Manifest Destiny that were presented during the formation of the U.S. Both narratives falsely frame this expansion as necessary progress that benefits everyone.
Additionally, this connects to the guest lecturer’s discussion by shedding light on the forces that enable the foreclosure and displacement of people from their homes. The so-called “mobility” and “freedom” of some (digital nomads, wealthier settlers) come at the expense of others (low-income tenants, displaced locals, and marginalized communities). Both the lecture and the paper contribute to a similar story: the lecture focused on those directly impacted by gentrification caused by digital nomadism, the rise of technology-driven capitalism and other factors, while the paper highlights how the concept of “digital nomadism” itself perpetuates these issues.
Both the lecture and the paper challenged my thinking by highlighting that things I once saw as helpful were actually harmful. For example, I work for a non-profit, but I never realized that the nonprofit industrial complex (NPIC) functions as a form of soft surveillance for the government. It limits the mobility of activism because you can only be as radical as the government allows—which is nothing at all.
Additionally, I have used Airbnbs in the past without realizing the broader impact the company has on local communities. I was constantly fed the idea that Airbnb helps the local economy. However, after learning more about its effects, I now see how this narrative is shaped by a savior complex—one that presents Airbnb as a force for good while ignoring the deeper economic inequalities that allow it to thrive. By focusing only on the idea that Airbnb “boosts the local economy,” I had overlooked the full story: its success often comes at the expense of the communities it claims to support.
I don’t believe technology is the sole problem, but rather a tool that has allowed imperialism to grow rapidly in conjunction with other factors.
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