The Unplugged Vacation

Vacation photos: they conjure images of hotel balcony views, cultural landmarks and the quintessential “hot dog legs” on the beach— each snapped in a calculated frenzy that alienates the followers you are hoping to impress.

Millennials have turned vacationing into a popularity contest. A staggering 90 percent admit to posting when on holiday, and one in four say they post within an hour of arriving at their destination, according to a recent study by insurance company Aviva.

It seems that “taking a break” does not always apply to one’s online presence. Vacationers focus more on making others jealous of where they vacation than on actually enjoying the destination. What was once a digital diary is now a public performance.

“It’s oversharing to the point where you want to make it look like every day of your trip you are having the best day of your life,” said Anthony Byrne (ENG ’19).

This intensifies the “FOMO”—fear of missing out—experienced by those still at home. This anxious feeling stems from comparison. As you scroll through yet another seemingly perfect feed, it is easy to forget that it is just a curation of that individual’s personal highlights. Do not be fooled: 64 percent of Americans retake and edit a photo before finally feeling satisfied with it.

“I used social media more when I studied abroad in Australia,” said Byrne. “I wanted to show off, of course, that I was on the beach while everyone else was stuck in the snow [in Boston]. But, I found myself focusing too much on getting the right picture and making the right caption. It’s a lot of effort and, in the end, I didn’t want to spend my time doing it.”

Maintaining a persona worth envying requires outside effort and added stress for posters.

“It’s such a paradox,” said Byrne. “You go to these beautiful places and, assuming you don’t get to do it all of the time, you want to enjoy it, but it’s also normal to want to take some pictures to look back on afterwards.”

Typically, your closest friends and family are the most invested in your travels. If your account settings are private and you pick and choose your followers, it is easier to tailor your posts to this more receptive audience. It is certainly more efficient to upload several photos to one profile than to send the collection to every acquaintance in your contacts list. In turn, this also encourages you to be more vulnerable online.

“I went to Poland on a Holocaust trip over winter break and it was definitely a touchy topic to post about,” said Jamie Weber (SHA ’20). “Most people on the trip were not even taking photos of anything at all because they felt it was not the time or place, but I personally wanted to share the stories that I learned. I actually got a lot of positive feedback that I did not expect to see —literally over 30 comments from followers thanking me for sharing.”

On one hand, it is important to be aware of cultural connotations and respect those around you; for example, by not taking photos at holy sites or cemeteries. On the other hand, doing so for the right reasons, like Weber, can spark conversations between similarly minded individuals and inform those who may not have the opportunity to visit themselves.

A personal connection develops when someone includes their face in a photograph. This is why most holiday photos star the traveler themselves. Ironically, this often blocks the view or monument the individual traveled to see, but if followers want a clear shot they can always just Google it.

“I went swimming with stingrays in Cozumel, Mexico, which was something I had never done before,” said Weber. “My brother took a picture of me—you actually couldn’t even see the stingrays, but the caption referenced them and I liked my bathing suit.”

However, two thirds of people find holiday selfies annoying. High on this list are those who lug around the infamous “selfie stick,” viewing the world as a photo op. The cheap arm extension is now banned in some New York museums and at all soccer games in the United Kingdom.

“I’ve talked to people who have told me how stressful they find it all, and how they hate having to fight for likes,” said Byrne. “I ask them why they keep doing it and they say that they just have to.”

This is an incredibly common feeling among social media users. In fact, one in seven individuals only “like” a friend’s post because they hope that friend will do the same.

“A month will pass and I’ll be like why haven’t I posted, and I wish I didn’t,” said Mike Goodkind (COM ’18). “I wish I was cool with not posting for a month. I’m definitely guilty of checking who viewed my stories, too, and I know I shouldn’t because it’s shallow.”

Sharing too many updates also makes your empty home a target for potential thieves.

Tagging your selfie with its enviable location tips off burglars that you are away. In fact, over 78 percent of robbers are now using social media to find their targets.

This is a warning for millennials in particular, since 60 percent share travel plans online, compared to only 29 percent of baby boomers. This includes “dropping pins” at every landmark you visit and checking in with a cocktail snap in every airport lounge.

The more time you spend scrolling through social media feeds and fretting about your own, the more likely you are to feel socially isolated. Being online should not be your main source of social interaction. Instead of counting how many followers “like” looking at your feet in the sand, why not ask the person on the next sun lounger what they think of the view.

“I try not to be attached to my phone when I’m on vacation,” said Goodkind. “It’s a getaway from the moment for sure, so I’m less likely to check it. I put it away and just catch up on all of my text messages at the end of the day.”

Almost every holidaymaker fears boredom. Although it does depend on the type of vacation you choose, from visiting bustling cities to laying on tranquil beaches, there is always something you can do to occupy your time. And, if not, then just enjoy being present. We have become accustomed to continuous activity so much that it deems quietude impossible to cope with.

“I recently started using the guided meditation app Headspace and I turned my phone to ‘do not disturb’ in an effort to focus on being ‘here,’” said Goodkind.

Nature is a powerful relaxation tool. Playing natural sounds, like waves or raindrops, lowers your fight-or-flight instinct and helps you unwind. Paired with deep breathing, it increases your physical awareness and helps you connect with your environment. The next time you take a beach vacation, consider unplugging your headphones to really reap the benefits around you. It might surprise you just how self-aware you start to feel once you slow down.

Pick up a guidebook at your local bookstore and bring along an old-fashioned camera to capture the memories you know can’t miss— just don’t let it dominate. If you use your phone excessively, you might be missing out on everything that you have gone on holiday to enjoy.

by Chloë Hudson photography by Eva Vidan design by Jami Rubin