You finally arrive at your dream travel destination with so much anticipation after having seen the place all over Instagram. You finally see the view you’ve been looking forward to for so long, but instead of just taking it in, you take out your phone to capture the âperfectâ angle. You begin to prioritize getting content as opposed to simply appreciating it.Â
I caught myself doing this. As I arrived in the middle of the Sahara Desert after having ridden a camel for 45 minutes, I was only concerned with getting the perfect sunset picture. I was so worried about the content that I didnât spend as much time enjoying the sunset and everything that was in front of me.Â
Social media has completely changed the perspective of travel; itâs created an expectation that if you didn’t post about your trip, did you even go? There’s now a strong pressure to get the perfect airport photo, aesthetic sunset pictures, lofty shots of famous landmarks and âcandidâ pictures of you enjoying the location. Instead of focusing on truly experiencing a new place and immersing ourselves in local cultures, travel has become a worry for what people will think about the trips we take. Instead of sparking curiosity, the intent has shifted into âHow will this trip look?â and âHow will I present this to others?â So are we actually traveling for ourselves and to expand our worldviews, or to simply share on social media?
I think most of us are guilty of this. As someone who grew up traveling and who had the importance of seeing the world instilled in me at a young age, I realize now I, too, have fallen for the âlookâ of it on social media. I am fully a âpicture or it didnât happenâ type of person. I love capturing memories for the purpose of being able to look back on it and remember what I experienced. I think photography is an incredible art of creating permanent images, but it canât be the most important thing. Living in the present and enjoying what is actually happening around you is the most important. We shouldnât live behind our screens; we should appreciate what is directly in front of us and experience the world around us to learn and grow.
This past summer, I took a trip to the south of Italy and Malta. Having gone right after a very stressful and difficult semester, this was exactly the break that I needed to recharge. Above all, when I was there, I prioritized disconnecting and living in the complete present. I noticed in doing so, I worried far less about what others were thinking; I was much more grateful for the experience and getting to be in such a beautiful place, and I was able to actually rest and create a break for myself to actually slow down in life. Of course I took pictures. Who wouldn’t? I even posted on Instagram recapping the experience, but my priority wasnât capturing my outfits and every angle of myself there.Â
Furthermore, social media also influences the places people go. Although platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok are great ways to get restaurant recommendations, find local hidden spots, and share itineraries, they create a demand to go to a certain place. It may not be the most special location, but if it photographs well, people will desire to go. This creates identical trips, which prevents people from having unique travel experiences.Â
The travel demand from social media also causes overtourism and extreme crowds in popular global destinations. In Spain and Barcelona, people are beginning to protest the negative conditions that overtourism is creating and the extreme high prices that are occurring as a result. Massive crowds can also begin to damage cultural and historical sites leading to a deeper need to preserve these locations. Tourism itself isnât the problem, but as a result of social media, it brings many newfound problems to already crowded sites
Social media, however, doesnât only have negative effects on traveling. It has made travel far more accessible and meaningful. It has created a way for people to share their memories and allow for people to keep up with their experiences. As someone who has moved around and only has family living internationally, social media has allowed me to remain connected with the people I love. Social media also allows people to learn about new countries, understand different parts of the world and share information that may be extremely necessary and meaningful for others.Â
This doesnât mean we should stop taking pictures, but we should not let pictures dictate our travel experience. My favorite parts of trips have been the most unexpected, unplanned and fully immersive experiences. For example, my family once rented a van and drove all around Morocco, stopping in different desert towns, engaging with locals and being invited to their homes. They would offer us Mint Tea which is a powerful symbol of hospitality and friendship in Morocco. In Santorini, we offered an old man a ride across the island since he was walking up an incredibly steep hill; in return, he offered me vegetables to show his gratitude. In Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, I joined a local group of drummers to play and dance along with them. These unique experiences are what gives me purpose and leaves me addicted to travelling. It’s not the Instagram post, but everything that happens behind the scenes of it.