The paradox of digital nomadism, social isolation, and mental health within an island context, Malta

The rise of digital nomadism (DN) represents a fundamental shift in the modern labour landscape, as the pursuit of professional, spatial and personal freedom (Reichenberger, 2017). Digital technologies can collapse the boundary between working in an office and working while travelling, consequently, nomads disrupted the idea of traditional labour structures through radical flexibility (Green, 2020). Yet, this emancipatory aspiration is inextricably entangled with global capitalist dynamics. Beneath the aesthetic of laptops on beaches lies a complex socio-psychological landscape marked by feelings of vulnerability and profound isolation. This article argues that the very autonomy DNs seek often creates a liminal trap, where individuals exist in a state of presence without belonging, leading to severe risks to mental wellbeing.