Conducting a systematic literature review to expose the presence of the biopolitical lens in tourism research reveals the relevance of pursuing critical and unconventional research strategies. As contemporary social life and the reproduction of society are integrated into the scope of market capitalism, and the state exerts its role as protector of the 'free' market, biopolitics functions through the internalization of the rules of conduct by individuals, as well as through the economic integration of previously noneconomic spheres. Justifying the inclusion of biopolitics as a response to the questions raised by the worldmaking tenet, this article aims to set the concept of biopolitics as the articulation between dominant structures and agency. In particular, the article argues that, through the review and rating system incorporated in the platform, both guests and hosts actively contribute to the production of a set of constantly changing hierarchies that represent the driving force of Airbnb as a biopolitical social regulator.Ĭontemporary tourism is omnipresent in development discourses and policies, functioning as a 'worldmaking' force in which tourism activities provide a representation and storyline that influence the tourist and their behavior, thus becoming a form of social production.

Drawing on in-depth interviews with Airbnb hosts and their participation in forum discussions the article discusses how people understand – and resist – Airbnb’s ‘ranking logic’ and the ways in which their Selves and their homes should be rated and ranked and put into circulation as ‘value’ by the platform. It does so by unpicking various applications and technologies used by Airbnb to monitor, record and measure the behaviour of hosts and guests.

Secondly, it looks at how the company’s use of data management and metrics has become increasingly instrumental in maintaining control over hosts and guests and obtaining desirable and profitable outcomes.

It first explores some of the ideas and ontological claims that endorse Airbnb’s digital infrastructure. Provocatively drawing inspiration from an episode of the Netflix series Black Mirror and China’s Social Credit System this article critically examines the politics and practices of datafication, quantification and qualification associated to the Airbnb platform.

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