How do you choose where to go on holiday? Do you look at the cost, at the number of museums, or the weather?
According to a recent survey carried out by Schofields Insurance, the number one factor that determines where we holiday is how ‘Instagrammable’ it is. Millenials, it seems, are choosing their holiday destinations based upon how socially shareable their holiday will be over any other factor.
As a blogger with an Instagram full of other bloggers’ profiles, I am all too aware of how the social media site is used to portray an illusion of the perfect life. Heavily edited photos, fake backgrounds and even fake followers are all aspects of Instagram that I don’t like, but are increasingly used as the platform becomes more and more competitive. Blogger or not, most of us use social media and enjoy showing off our great moments, and that includes the ideal holiday.
But, choosing a destination purely because it will look good on social media? I’m not sure about that.
I’m not the best blogger – or social media user – because I don’t really care that much how many likes I get. I probably should care more as a blogger, but I don’t. I don’t post as much as other people because when I’m having a good time I forget about my phone; typing out 30 hashtags per photo takes time and to be honest I’d rather spend that time doing something else, like, reading a book or chatting to my husband.
The survey found that the concern as to how holiday snaps would appear online proved more of a motivating factor than the opportunities to immerse themselves in the local culture, local sightseeing and even the cost and availability of alcohol. This really surprises me, but maybe I’m just different – obviously I’m more swayed to visiting locations that are beautiful, but that is because it would look amazing to me, not my followers.
It seems to me that how we are seen on social media is becoming, for many young people, more important than our actual experiences. Have you really been on holiday if you haven’t put it on Instagram? I’m not sure anymore! What do you think?