The above video is a really wonderful dive into the relationship between the rise of social media and the destruction or overcrowding of natural and not so natural destinations.
With my background in photography I’m an admitted shutterbug. On my most recent vacation I took thousands of photos, just with my phone. I agree with the researcher in the video from USC who says that “when people take photographs they actually enjoy the experience more” and are more engaged in the travel experience. However, when taking those photos with the intention to post them to social media, rather than for personal enjoyment that enjoyment factor decreases significantly.
I’ve noticed in my personal trips to the Southwest over the past several decades that places are much more crowded than they used to be. Among additional factors, one of the main reasons behind this increase seems to be “social media fueled tourism.” Years ago you could take a photo, have it printed and share it with friends and family to encourage them to visit. Now everything is instant, you can stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon or even more out of the way places like Horseshoe Bend and instantly post the coordinates of your photograph to social media for others to punch into their device and get directions on how to get to the same spot. It’s called geotagging and it’s common practice these days.
There is an iconic overlook in Trolltunga, Norway that saw an increase in visitors from 500 in 2009 to 40,000 in 2014 according to National Geographic.
Of course, the flip side to the issue is that many destinations have benefited greatly from the increase in tourism revenue that social media has provided. This will no doubt continue as social media users search for the next hot location.
I think the real lesson here is that we need to be responsible travelers. Stop and think before you post that photo of your favorite trail or overlook that you currently have to yourself, do you really want to find a crowd there the next time you visit? Maybe the purpose of your post can be to educate others on how to visit responsibly rather than to simply inspire them to recreate your photo.
When you’re ready to explore more about your next vacation I’d love to help you navigate that process. Click here and let’s get started.
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