“Mobile Lives” and COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

　In the modern era, more persons frequently move in their daily lives, leave their hometowns, and become “migrants.” These changes reflect the concept of “mobile society” and “mobile lives” (proposed by Elliot and Urry), where people are usually “moving.” They use the mobile phone and internet for acquiring information and connecting with others (family, friends, colleagues, and anonymous people) when “on the move.”

　The COVID-19 pandemic changed this situation completely. People were restricted from going out, traveling, eating or drinking in a restaurant, or meeting people. Eventually, they retreated from their “mobile lives.” However, this study emphasizes that restricted spatial movements are compensated by remote communications and delivering/supplying goods online, which help us live in a “mobile society” during/after the pandemic.

　Further, we notice that the social inequality, exclusion, and gap widened in the “mobile society.” Urry explains how freely a person’s choices to leave or stay decides the person’s social class or status. He warns that “mobile lives” are energy-wasting because more people use cars, trains, and airplanes for self and goods transportation, which causes global warming. This study shows that social problems caused by “mobile lives” must be taken seriously during/after the pandemic era.