Digital nomadism among Tomsk students: identification and self-identification

Digital Nomadism (DN) [3] is one of the most remarkable manifestations of the modern society. It occurred on the virtue of several factors, such as the evolution of the Internet, the appearance of the state-of-the-art computer and digital technologies, wide spread of wireless communications (Wi-Fi) and transport systems development. This social practice has two basic characteristics: constant geographical mobility and plugging into the network. Unlike some other innovative practices of the new era (freelancing, networking, downshifting, etc.), DN embraces all areas of social activity and represents a lifestyle of the new nomadic era [5]. The processes of technologization, informatization, computerization, digitalization, and net-workization help to spread this phenomenon both on the global and the local scales. One of the most active cohorts of digital nomads are students as they are seen both as the network generation [3] and as digital natives [4]. The cohort includes both "global" digital nomads, who take part in international academic exchanges and travels, and "local" ones, who lead a nomadic life within city boundaries with their Wi-Fi zones. The dynamics of the digital nomadism expansion increases. It is gradually gaining the status of one of the most popular social phenomena and issue of the modern age that are connected with identification and self-identification of individuals with digital nomads. All that makes DN an object of interest for researchers from various areas, as well as for practice-oriented professionals. However, despite the indisputable significance of the phenomenon as a new lifestyle of the youth, the dynamics of the scientific thought doesn't keep pace with the speed of DN expansion as a practice. This research was aimed at studying the DN realization among Tomsk students, and analyzing social and physiological, and culture and anthropological characteristics of Tomsk universities' students as potential global and local digital nomads. The paper describes the results of the research on the perception of the Digital Nomad image, its identification, conscious and unconscious identification with self-images. The main conclusion is that the DN attitude is being formed among the students of Tomsk. One can find not only potential, but real "city" nomads among the youth. However, the problem is that young people do not have enough information about this phenomenon, its opportunities, and risks.

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