Keep it to your self(ie).
The Fourth of July weekend started with a record. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened 2.88 million passengers on June 30, its most ever. The federal agency has been reiterating that it’s going to be a busy summer, and travel experts echo the assessment.
Fighting inflation, weather, strikes, 5G-deadline problems, and staff shortage, American travelers are marching on to their favorite destinations, mobile phones and cameras in tow. What this means for everyone is that Facebook and Instagram feeds are going to be inundated with travel photos—more so than ever.
And if a recent survey is to be believed, it’ll happen against your will.
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Thank You, Next
Social media inspires a bit of narcissism, a little voyeurism, and a dash of escapism. A roll of perfectly fabulous lives is easy to produce with filters and tools, but do people want to see this edited cut of reality? PlanetWare surveyed Americans to find out and a third shook their heads in a no.
One in 3 Americans said vacation photos are annoying. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 Americans admitted to have muted or unfollowed someone for uploading too many of those, and 61% think daily status updates are the most irritating.
Pool photos, leaning on Pisa, legs on the beach, check-in bags are all turn-offs for social media users. It’s more of the same on loop: the trends, the choreography, the music.
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But the worst transgressions are posting thirst traps—55% of Americans said they hate the sexy photos that grab eyeballs. Vacation countdown is a close second with 55% disapproval rate and throwback posts are also unpopular and unnecessary (53% think so). People are also affronted by yoga posts (40%), pulling partner along (35%), writing on the beach (26%), and cliched landmark poses (25%).
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However, a reason for this disapproval could be jealousy; 53% of those surveyed accepted that they have gone a green shade of envy looking at someone’s vacation posts. Meanwhile, more than half (55%) said that they know someone who posts these pictures to show off.
This summer if you’re planning to document your holiday for your timeline, you might find more upvotes if you post videos of must-do activities (according to 70%). Get real with all the mistakes you made while planning or holiday and it will appease 44% of those surveyed.
So, grittiness over glossiness! When in doubt, cancel upload. Or don’t, it’s a free country.
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I’m the Problem, It’s Me
Are you guilty of uploading obnoxious pool pictures yourself? You’re not alone. Americans who don’t like the typical vacation photos admitted to sharing them with their followers themselves.
Those seemingly innocuous photos of looking out a plane window? Twenty-one percent hate them, yet 25% of people have posted them. Same goes for legs by the pool pictures—34% showed a thumbs down while 14% have clicked “Post” on them. Cocktail glasses aren’t appreciated very much either, but 19% have joined the bandwagon to cheers online.
The survey also revealed that 3 in 4 Americans have felt that being trigger-happy while on a vacation has distracted them from experiencing the destination. So, don’t let TikTok take over your holiday.
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