FROM THE TOURIST GAZE TO THE DIGITAL GAZE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF IDENTITY PERFORMATIVITY, HYPERCONNECTIVITY, AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Abstract
This systematic review examines the transformation of foundational sociological concepts in tourism studies—particularly authenticity, identity performance, and the tourist gaze—in response to the proliferation of social media and hyperconnectivity. Building on John Urry's seminal concept of the "tourist gaze" and Erving Goffman's theory of self-presentation, this review synthesizes empirical and theoretical literature published between 2015 and 2025 to address a critical gap: the absence of a synthesized understanding of how digital platforms have shifted the ontological nature of the tourist experience. Following PRISMA 2020 systematic review guidelines, this study analyzes 112 peer-reviewed articles sourced from Scopus and Web of Science databases. The findings reveal five thematic clusters emerging from bibliometric analysis: (1) Digital Identity and Performativity; (2) Algorithmic Mediation of Experience; (3) Hyperconnectivity and Liminality Erosion; (4) Digital Authenticity Paradoxes; and (5) Platform-Specific Affordances. This review advances theoretical contributions by proposing the "Digital Gaze" framework, which reconceptualizes the tourist gaze as algorithmically mediated, performatively intensified, and continuously documented. The review concludes with a research agenda emphasizing the need for longitudinal studies, non-Western perspectives, and critical examinations of algorithmic power in shaping tourism practices.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Rudy Pramono, Arifin Djakasaputra
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