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4 in 10 travellers visit tourist sites to capture social media content

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Re: 4 in 10 travellers visit tourist sites to capture social media content

#31

Post by koliber »

lazide wrote: post #20
userbinator wrote: post #13

Before social media, they would be taking photos (and later videos) just the same. In fact, before they became ubiquitous in phones, people used to buy cameras (and extra film) specifically for the purpose of using them in their travels.

Kinda - it used to be the reach of vacation photos was relatively limited, so the degree of aggressiveness was also relatively limited. Going literally to just get photos was also somewhat limited, because who would be crazy enough to go just to get photos for a few friends and acquaintances and never even attempt to enjoy it? A limited number of people. Social media has really amped it up, including the competitive…

National Geographic and BBC would send photographers to a place for the sole purpose of taking a photo. Regular people did not do that.

Re: 4 in 10 travellers visit tourist sites to capture social media content

#32

Post by gherkinnn »

userbinator wrote: post #13

Before social media, they would be taking photos (and later videos) just the same. In fact, before they became ubiquitous in phones, people used to buy cameras (and extra film) specifically for the purpose of using them in their travels.

Look at it this way: would those four out of ten people have visited those places if they weren't allowed to take any photos or videos? And how many would do a thing if they weren't allowed to tell anyone afterwards?

Re: 4 in 10 travellers visit tourist sites to capture social media content

#33

Post by p1anecrazy »

teekert wrote: post #12

Was recently in Borneo, picked up a magazine in an accommodation, read an article about how traveling nowadays needs to be documented and is about experience as much as your feeds... I... felt old. I think that in some cultures it's even more than others, for example I often saw hordes of Chinese tourists (but there are of course simply a lot of Chinese people) take turns in front of a waterfall (on flip flop or even…

Polarsteps? Your what now?

Re: 4 in 10 travellers visit tourist sites to capture social media content

#34

Post by tgv »

Bombthecat wrote: post #9

I would have thought it's more. Feels like everyone is taking pictures to post. Not to remember

It's imitation, I think. Influencers traveling for clout isn't exactly new, and they got it from existing conventions on social media. So now everybody feels compelled to do the same, or they'll have something to explain.

Re: 4 in 10 travellers visit tourist sites to capture social media content

#35

Post by Aurornis »

Let people enjoy things. If people want to visit a place, take some photos, and leave, then I don't believe that's morally inferior to someone who visits the same place but doesn't take photos. People enjoy tourist destinations differently and that's fine.

At this point, I'm more annoyed by the people who make a display of their sense of superiority over people taking photos or otherwise not enjoying the tourist destination in their approved way. Everyone has the same right to be there, IMO.

Re: 4 in 10 travellers visit tourist sites to capture social media content

#36

Post by madaxe_again »

userbinator wrote: post #13

Before social media, they would be taking photos (and later videos) just the same. In fact, before they became ubiquitous in phones, people used to buy cameras (and extra film) specifically for the purpose of using them in their travels.

Tell me you’re Gen Z without telling me you’re Gen Z.

No, it was not always thus. People would take a camera or a disposable camera, sure, but it wasn’t the focus - it was “oh we should grab a photo for aunt Mabel”. And you’d have 30 shots. For the entire trip.

Re: 4 in 10 travellers visit tourist sites to capture social media content

#37

Post by Aurornis »

lazide wrote: post #20
userbinator wrote: post #13

Before social media, they would be taking photos (and later videos) just the same. In fact, before they became ubiquitous in phones, people used to buy cameras (and extra film) specifically for the purpose of using them in their travels.

Kinda - it used to be the reach of vacation photos was relatively limited, so the degree of aggressiveness was also relatively limited. Going literally to just get photos was also somewhat limited, because who would be crazy enough to go just to get photos for a few friends and acquaintances and never even attempt to enjoy it? A limited number of people. Social media has really amped it up, including the competitive…

> and never even attempt to enjoy it?

They are enjoying it. They're enjoying it in their own way, and I think there's nothing wrong with that.

I did a little bit of travel when I was young before smartphones were everywhere. There were definitely tourists going to spots to take a picture and then leaving.

Re: 4 in 10 travellers visit tourist sites to capture social media content

#39

Post by sakjur »

jezzamon wrote: post #15

The article's headline has a bit of a slant: "Nearly four in ten respondents, 39%, admit they have visited a tourist site mainly to take a photo or video." ... That doesn't mean that it's just for social media

And the singular makes a huge difference there.

If I'm a hundred meters away from a tourist site that I'm not overly interested in but can snatch a quick picture to send to friends? Well sure. I'd admit to that.

I visited the world's largest paving stone in Brussels to grab a picture for a friend who had told me about it.

> For 18% of respondents, an obsession with photos and social media can be considered a red flag when choosing a travel companion.

This is the number that surprised me. I'd thought that would be much higher.

Re: 4 in 10 travellers visit tourist sites to capture social media content

#40

Post by madaxe_again »

jezzamon wrote: post #15

The article's headline has a bit of a slant: "Nearly four in ten respondents, 39%, admit they have visited a tourist site mainly to take a photo or video." ... That doesn't mean that it's just for social media

Yeah, it does, as this behaviour was unknown previously. A camera was an accessory, not the focus of your trip.

Amazed by the number of kids on this thread going “but it’s always been like this!” - much like they always assume I had social media as a kid. In the 80s.

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