Bored Panda wanted to learn a bit more about the effect that obsessively following influencers' posts can have on people's well-being, so we reached out to Sarah M. Coyne, PhD, a professor of human development in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. Coyne also has a blog on Psychology Today, 'The Right Media Mindset.'
As influencers' posts on social media can create the illusion that their lives are 'perfect' and full of adventure, we were curious about what can happen if the audience fully buys into the story that they're telling.
"Individuals are likely to compare their lives to others on social media," the professor told us.
"When posts are inauthentic or inaccurate or only focus on the positive, an upward social comparison is likely to occur, increasing the likelihood of mental health problems," she said.
Bored Panda was also concerned about where the line is when someone should start being concerned that influencers' posts are affecting their behavior and decisions a bit too much.
Professor Coyne noted that we should be aware of our daily surfing habits.
"When you are checking daily and letting your world view be shaped by influencers, or feel like you have to 'check in' with their site before making a decision—you probably have gone a little too far!" she said. It's at this point that we should aim to scale back our social media use.
The video that Keilys shared on Facebook was a massive hit with internet users around the globe. At the time of writing, it was watched a whopping 57 million times. Moreover, it got 1.3 million reactions, over 17k comments, and was shared 161k times.
It’s a prime example of viral content, and it’s easy to see why it spread like wildfire. On the one hand, you’ve got clips of absolutely jaw-droppingly gorgeous places. The kinds of locations that you mostly see in movies. On the other hand, you see the harsh contrast from comparing the ‘perfect’ frames with amateur videos. Not only do the locations look less dramatic, but it’s also stunning how regular they can look when there’s a mass of tourists angling for selfies.
Makeup artist Keilys, from Colombia, is very popular on social media. Over 1.2 million people follow her Facebook page and she has another 18.4k fans on Instagram.
The viral video that she shared reminded people not to rely just on initial impressions. Overhyping yourself can be one of the worst things that you do before traveling. You’re setting the bar so high, it’s incredibly likely that you’ll end up disappointed, no matter how great your trip actually is. And odds are, the trip won’t be epic either way.
This phenomenon is called Paris Syndrome. It’s an extreme sense of disappointment that many people get when they visit Paris: they had very different expectations for the city and they realized that it’s not all romance, fashion, and croissants. Broadly speaking, the more popular a place is, the more overhyped it becomes, and the more of a letdown it can be for tourists. Sometimes people forget that big cities are noisy and messy while tourist spots are bound to be crawling with hundreds of visitors from abroad. It’s easy to be seduced by a picture-perfect post on Instagram.
So before you book your tickets, pack your bags, and test out different selfie angles, it’s a smart first step to take the time to do some background research. If your entire trip hinges on visiting a single location that you’ve seen on Instagram, you’re likely to be sorely disappointed. We feel that it's always best to be realistic and then be pleasantly surprised than start off wildly optimistic, only to be let down.
Look into the place you’re planning on visiting. Check out some photos and videos of the spot from a variety of different perspectives. Read some background material and reviews, not just the official promo material or your fave influencer’s posts. Talk to some of your travel-loving friends and consider contacting a local guide for a quick chat.
Meanwhile, look for other interesting things to do in the area, instead of focusing on the most popular tourist destinations. Learn about the local customs and memorize at least some useful phrases.
Try to focus on what you, yourself, enjoy rather than what would look great posted on Instagram. There’s a certain sense of calm that washes over you when you travel without a camera or leave your phone behind in your hotel room. Selfies are nice… but what endures are the memories of a real adventure, and they require a willingness to embrace the unexpected.
