ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel ClickView Impacts of Instagram and Media on Tourism | Geography
Technology and social media are transforming every part of our lives, including how we travel. Social media influencers, who are people with a large online following, share their travel adventures and set trends. This influences where people choose to go on vacation and what they do there. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and especially Instagram, play a big role in this change. Advertising algorithms also target people based on what they look at online, showing how social media shapes our tastes and choices.
Instagram has become a major platform for influencers. People post photos of beautiful places, inspiring many others to visit those spots and take similar pictures. This has led to a problem called overtourism, where too many people visit a place at once, often because photos are geotagged, showing the exact location. A survey found that over 40% of millennials choose travel destinations based on how “Instagram-worthy” they are. But do they really get the experience they hoped for?
Instagram has over 1 billion active users each month, with more than 100 million photos uploaded daily, many by tourists. The saying “Seeing is believing” doesn’t always hold true anymore. Many photos are edited or misleading. For example, at the Lempuyang Temple in Bali, Indonesia, photos often show a lake that doesn’t exist. It’s actually an optical illusion created with a mirror. Over 15,000 similar posts have been shared, causing long lines of tourists who often leave disappointed.
Some tourists take dangerous risks to capture the perfect photo, like taking selfies on cliff edges or leaning out of moving trains. This has led to accidents and even bans on selfie sticks in places like the Eiffel Tower in France due to safety concerns. Wildlife and the environment can also suffer. In Spain, a baby dolphin died after being passed around for photos instead of being helped.
But is all the impact of social media negative? It can actually benefit tourism too. When planning a trip to a new place, social media can provide honest reviews and experiences, helping travelers make better choices. Destinations can also use social media to attract more tourists. For example, in 2015, Wanaka, a small town in New Zealand, started the Wanaka Influencer Program. They offered free accommodations and activities to influencers in exchange for social media posts. This led to a 14% increase in visitors by the next year.
The desire to share travel experiences has greatly influenced tourism trends. Like all technology, social media’s impact can be good or bad for both destinations and travelers. Whether it has a positive or negative effect depends on the choices travelers make. If you found this article interesting, you can explore more content at clickview.net. Sign up for free today!
Imagine you are a social media influencer. Choose a travel destination and create a series of Instagram posts that highlight its attractions. Use creative captions and hashtags to engage your audience. Consider how you can promote the destination responsibly, avoiding overtourism and respecting local cultures.
Find a popular travel photo on Instagram and research the reality behind it. Write a short report comparing the photo’s portrayal with the actual experience. Discuss how editing and angles can change perceptions and what impact this might have on tourists’ expectations.
Participate in a class debate on whether social media has a positive or negative impact on tourism. Prepare arguments for both sides, considering environmental, cultural, and economic factors. Engage with your classmates to explore different perspectives.
Create a guide for tourists on how to use social media responsibly while traveling. Include tips on respecting local cultures, protecting the environment, and ensuring personal safety. Share your guide with the class and discuss how it can help improve tourism practices.
Research a successful social media campaign by a tourism board or travel company. Analyze the strategies used and the outcomes achieved. Present your findings to the class, highlighting what made the campaign effective and any lessons that can be applied to future campaigns.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
[Narrator] Technology and new media are changing every aspect of our lives, and tourism is no exception. Social media influencers set trends by sharing their travel experiences online, affecting where we go on vacation and what we do there. Driving much of this change is the growth of photo-sharing platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Instagram. Additionally, advertising algorithms target consumers based on the content they view online, making it clear how people’s tastes are being shaped by social media.
Instagram, in particular, has seen a surge of influencers. People take photos in stunning surroundings, inspiring thousands to travel there and capture similar images. This has worsened the problem of overtourism, especially when images are geotagged, encouraging others to flock to specific locations that may not be able to cope with a sudden influx of visitors. A survey asking what millennials most look for when choosing a travel destination found that over 40% were influenced by how Instagram-worthy the destination was. However, did they really get the experience they hoped for?
Instagram has more than 1 billion active monthly users, with over 100 million photographs uploaded each day, many taken by tourists. Nowadays, the adage “Seeing is believing” often isn’t true. Many shared images are edited or, at the very least, misleading. For instance, influencers who can’t get the perfect shot might use photo editing apps to enhance their images, aiming for more likes and views. Some images depict pure fantasy, such as the Gate of Heaven at the Lempuyang Temple in Bali, Indonesia. While the gates do exist, the lake often shown in photos is an optical illusion created by placing a mirror under the camera. Over 15,000 similar posts have been shared by tourists eager to participate in the trend. These misleading photos have led to long lines of tourists at the temple, many of whom leave feeling disappointed.
Some tourists go to dangerous lengths to capture images, taking selfies on cliff edges, leaning out of moving trains, and climbing active volcanoes, resulting in numerous accidents. The rush to take photos can also pose risks to others. Selfie sticks have been banned in several locations, including the Eiffel Tower in France, due to safety concerns. Additionally, there are negative impacts on wildlife and the environment. In Spain, a stranded baby dolphin died after being passed around for photos, as tourists prioritized capturing images over calling for help.
However, is the impact of new media all negative? Can it benefit tourism? When planning a vacation to an unfamiliar destination, there is always some risk involved. Honest reviews and shared experiences on social media can help travelers make informed choices. The influence of social media can also be leveraged by destinations looking to increase tourist numbers. In 2015, a small town in New Zealand called Wanaka implemented the Wanaka Influencer Program, which covered influencers’ accommodations and activities in exchange for social media posts. Photos posted by influencers on Instagram received up to 50,000 likes, and by the end of the following year, the number of visitors to Wanaka had increased by 14%.
The allure of sharing travel experiences has undeniably impacted tourism trends. As with all technology, these changes can be either beneficial or detrimental to destinations and travelers alike. Whether the influence of social media has a positive or negative impact ultimately depends on the choices made by travelers. If you enjoyed this video, you can find it and many more at clickview.net. Sign up for free today!
Social Media – Platforms and websites that allow users to create, share, and interact with content and each other online. – Social media has become a powerful tool for connecting people and sharing information across the globe.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry and everyday life. – Advances in technology have transformed how we communicate and access information.
Tourism – The business or activity of traveling to and staying in places outside one’s usual environment for leisure, business, or other purposes. – Tourism can significantly boost a country’s economy by attracting international visitors.
Influencers – Individuals who have the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of their authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with their audience. – Influencers often use social media platforms to promote products and destinations to their followers.
Instagram – A social media platform where users can share photos and videos, often used for personal expression and marketing. – Many travelers use Instagram to document their journeys and share their experiences with a wider audience.
Travel – The act of moving from one place to another, typically over a distance, for various purposes such as leisure, business, or exploration. – Travel can broaden one’s perspective by exposing them to different cultures and environments.
Experiences – Events or activities that leave a lasting impression on someone, often contributing to personal growth and understanding. – Sharing travel experiences on social media can inspire others to explore new places.
Algorithms – A set of rules or processes followed by a computer to perform tasks or solve problems, often used in social media to determine what content is shown to users. – Social media algorithms can influence what news and updates people see in their feeds.
Destinations – Places that people travel to, often for vacation or leisure purposes. – Popular travel destinations often have unique attractions that draw visitors from around the world.
Overtourism – The excessive number of tourists visiting a destination, leading to negative impacts on the environment, local communities, and quality of life. – Overtourism can strain local resources and diminish the experience for both residents and visitors.
