Wireless Internet connectivity has become a pervasive part of tourist experience. Previous research has focused on informational uses of wireless internet use. The present study complements this literature by assessing emotional outcomes of wireless internet use. Wireless connectivity in general was not linked to positive emotions. Social media use in particular, however, was linked with positive emotions, a link which was stronger for solo tourists rather than accompanied tourists. These findings extend the literature by suggesting that the main benefits of wireless connectivity to the tourist experience may be more social than informational, and that solo tourists in particular connect to social media to fulfill interpersonal needs.
