If photos are not posted, did the trip even happen?
At some of the world’s most famous tourist spots, the view is no longer the main attraction, taking photos instead it becomes the main draw. People queue for the same angle, copy the same pose and sometimes even fail to look around before leaving. This latest trend make travel no longer feels like enjoy the scenery one’s haven’t seen before. It feels like content production.
Social media has completely changed the way we travel. Media platforms like Instagram and TikTok encourage people to choose destinations depending on how it appears on them. Instead of exploring new cultures or environments, travelers focus on creating photos that will gain attention. Nowadays, people also spend more time editing photos than enjoying the place itself.
From now on, it becomes obvious that the impact of social media is not always positive. Research reveals that not only does social media inspire travel, but it also influences where people go. A recent study found that the online popularity of a location is closely related to the number of tourists it attracts. In other words, the more place you see on your feed, the more it becomes your next destination.
Therefore, what people see online now influences where they go. Around 35% of travelers actively search for “Instagram worthy” locations, and over 40% of young people rely on social medial visuals to decide on their next destination. In fact, around 75% of travelers are influenced by social media when choosing where to go. Consequently, travel is increasingly driven by what looks good online rather than what is meaningful in real life.
Moreover, I think this trend has consequences in the real world. For example, the Spanish government has warned about ‘selfie tourism’, whereby viral social media posts lead to large crowds flocking to locations popular for photos, causing overcrowding and damage. In fact, it turns out that the best attraction isn’t always the place, but the photo of it.
Consequently, travel becomes less about connection and more about performance. Places are no longer just places, but backgrounds that are carefully chosen to look good on a computer screen. Travel should be about experiencing places, not just collecting photos to post later.
Otherwise, in the end, we might be able to remember where we have travelled through carefully edited photos, but we won’t be able to recall our true feelings at that time.
Han Tianyong 
Xinyue HOU