Digital Natives in an Ancient Valley

Technology transforms traditional communities worldwide, but Chamonix's experience proves particularly striking. High-speed internet enables remote work, letting professionals maintain urban careers while living mountain lives. Social media makes every sunset a global broadcast, every ski run a potential viral video.

Young Chamoniards navigate between worlds—helping with family businesses in the morning, streaming gaming sessions to international audiences at night. Traditional knowledge passes through new channels: WhatsApp groups share avalanche conditions, Instagram stories document traditional recipes, YouTube tutorials teach rope techniques passed down through generations.

"My grandfather taught me to read snow conditions," shares Léa Charlet, 22. "Now I share that knowledge on TikTok. Some old-timers think it's wrong to broadcast mountain secrets, but I see it as evolution. The knowledge survives by adapting."

This digital integration brings benefits and tensions. Tourism businesses must manage online reputations across multiple platforms. Bad reviews can destroy small operators; viral posts can overwhelm fragile sites. The valley grapples with preserving authentic experiences in an Instagram age where every moment becomes performative.