1,161,121: The number of photos currently circulating on Instagram when searching for #mexicotravel.

Social media has definitely changed the travel industry. No more relying on guidebooks or Google searches to plan your trip. Instead, you can follow travel influencers for all the details of exotic places.

Just as posting the most compelling travel photos has become the norm, this over-sharing of travel content has negative consequences.

This article is not telling you to stop posting travel photos. But we’ll take a look at the impact social media has on travel, and how every traveler can harness the power of social media rather than feed the beast of overtourism.

If you haven’t posted, have you really travelled?

The way some people post their vacation photos makes it seem like the only reason they travel is to capture the perfect Instagram photo. This is evident in the growing number of people queuing ridiculously long at various famous monuments to get their shareable photos. In fact, Content her writer Katie Bartles, in an article for wayfairtravel.com, says that in Pura He Lempuyan, Bali, there are even scams going on when people take pictures at sacred temples. Temples often have photographers with mirrors to create the illusion of reflections in the water. “There is no pond there, nor is it a quiet temple pictured on Instagram,” she said in her post.

People seem to be too preoccupied with being in front of the lens to live in the moment. According to some travel statistics, people are spending more time on their mobile phones while traveling. Passport Photo Online recently published a list of travel statistics showing:

• More than half (60%) of vacationers post photos on social media while on vacation. That number rises to 97%, especially when it comes to millennials.
• Nearly 46% of Americans want their travel experiences to make their followers jealous.
• Nearly 40% of millennials choose vacation destinations based on how Instagrammable their photos are.

These numbers may be surprising, but spending more time on Instagram than enjoying the beach isn’t the only negative impact social media has on the traveler experience.

Did Instagram decide your destination or did you decide?

Conscious and intentional use of Instagram can help you discover and travel to unique destinations. They can also provide helpful information, such as what to expect when visiting a particular location. However, some destinations drew far more people than expected due to mindless scrolling and uploading.

But what’s the problem with more people going to a destination that was popularized on Instagram? The problem is overtourism, which is defined by worldbackpackers.com is a highly visited place with a negative impact on communities, animals and the environment. This negative effect can sometimes look like litter littering beaches and natural areas. Or the cost of food and goods may increase in order to get more profit from tourists.

France is one of the countries that has realized the problem of tourism. In an article by France24.com, a local expert points out the negative impact overtourism has had on Normandy’s Etretat cliffs. “When tourists leave en masse after every big weekend, the town becomes very dirty. When you visit the cliffs, you see paper, masks and cigarette butts everywhere,” says Shaihanamaret. her Bitton says.

Maller-Bitton said in his article that overtourism is frustrating for travelers and tourists alike. “Tourism is necessary, but a balance must be found. Tourists themselves will benefit most. After spending several hours in the car unable to do so, he leaves angrily.This mass tourism does not satisfy anyone.”

Is mobile-free travel the solution?

Now that you know how social media is impacting tourism and travel, it’s time to do something about it. The solution is not to stop geotagging or go back to Polaroid cameras. It starts with becoming a more conscious traveler.

Undertourism: often used as a marketing strategy. national geographic is defined as a way to attract travelers to lesser-known places because it allows you to take Instagram-worthy photos without the crowds. Undertourism can also appear to travel to places that are off-season and generally seek a welcoming travel experience at the destination (Barcelona, ​​Spain is actively discouraging visitors). is different).

Slow travel: Slow travel allows you to stay in one place for a long time. Instead of visiting as many cities as possible in two weeks, pick one or two destinations that allow you to stay longer. Slow Travel gives you the opportunity to understand and explore new cultures, discover hidden gems that might have gone unnoticed, and travel more within the country.

Travel with intent: When your Instagram feed is saturated with 9,000 photos of Bali, Peru, and the Maldives, of course you’re going to want to travel there. But before you book your flight, ask yourself why you want to go there. Have a purpose for your trip, whether it’s using travel to heal, reconnect, or step outside your comfort zone.

Take your story home with your photos: If you’re the one posting travel content and making other people jealous, no one can blame you. But what makes your friends, colleagues, and family even more jealous is having a wild, funny, or inspiring story along with your photo. Stories are what make a trip meaningful.