Planning your next getaway?

You’ve likely scrolled through Instagram, watched a few dreamy travel vlogs on YouTube, and saved some TikToks showing crystal-clear beaches or hidden mountain cafés.

While these platforms can spark wanderlust (and rightfully so), they also often paint an unrealistic picture of what travel really looks like.

That’s why today, I want to take a moment to discuss how social media distorts travel expectations – and even put you at digital risk while you’re exploring the world.

The problem with perfect travel photos

The foundation of social media is captivating content. Travel influencers frequently post pictures of immaculate beaches (with no one else in sight!), deserted streets, and meals that resemble works of beauty.

You don’t see long queues, traffic jams, inclement weather, cancelled bus rides, or the hundred terrible pictures taken before the “ideal” one.

I think a healthy dose of scepticism (and a reality check) are always a good idea. Let’s remember that these posts are frequently:

• Staged and filtered. Destinations appear more gorgeous and vibrant than they actually are because of lighting, editing software, and strategic perspectives. Contrast makes the skies and seas more turquoise, and the sand whiter.
• Sponsored. Since many influencers receive compensation to recommend particular lodgings, restaurants or points of interest, their social media posts often omit any negative information. Plus, their travel arrangements will likely be very different from yours!
• Unrealistic. Elaborating on the previous point, you might lack the resources, time, or access necessary to replicate their precise experience and, therefore, run into more issues, limitations, or complications.

The way these places are presented has led to a surge in travelers visiting destinations based on Instagram photos, only to feel disappointed when they realize the reality doesn’t match what they saw online.

While there’s nothing wrong with capturing (and consuming) beautiful photos of sites and experiences, it’s always a good idea to remain realistic; know what to expect, and what’s within the realm of reality.

The need to “keep up” while on vacation

Now, let’s imagine you’ve finally reached your ideal destination. You might feel under pressure to update your story, upload pictures, and compete with other people’s highlight reels rather than savoring the moment.

The incessant urge to “share or it didn’t happen” can cause one to lose sight of the experience itself. Ultimately, you’ll end up focusing far more on capturing the perfect snapshot (or making sure all your friends have seen your post) than on the experience itself.

Worse still – it can lead to burnout. Nowadays, a lot of tourists say they feel overburdened when on vacation, particularly when attempting to meet the inflated expectations established by influencer photographs on social media.

Sharing too much while traveling can be risky

While social media can be a great way to connect with new and existing followers, share your travel photos and explore new locations online, it also brings significant risks that few – especially solo travellers – forget to consider.

Especially if you share too much while traveling.

You’re giving away private, highly personal information every time you share your location, tag a restaurant, or broadcast a real-time view of your hotel.

What you’re risking is this:

• Location tracking and theft. Adding a location tag might alert others that you’re not home, which could make break-ins more likely – or alert ill-intentioned folks to your live location.
• Attacks on public Wi-Fi networks. Free Wi-Fi is frequently available at hotels, cafés, and airports. However, many public Wi-Fi networks are not properly encrypted, which makes it easier for hackers to monitor your activities or steal your personal data.
  • What does this mean? In short, outsiders could access your online activity: they could spy on your banking login information, see which hotel you’ve booked next, steal your social media passwords… the list goes on.

• Phishing and fraudulent websites. Imagine you search for a hotel deal online and click a link that looks like a major, well-known hotel chain – but it’s actually a fake site designed to steal your credit card number when you book.
• NFC frauds and juice jacking. Public USB charging ports (like in airports) and tap-to-pay with NFC (like Apple Pay) can be compromised. “Juice jacking” involves malicious software installed in a USB port that steals data from your phone while charging. Similarly, a compromised NFC reader could skim your credit card details during a payment.
  • Imagine: You charge your phone at an airport kiosk and later find fraudulent charges on your bank account, or your credit card information is stolen after a quick tap at a suspicious payment terminal.

Luckily, there are some measures you can take to try to limit your exposure to these risks, including:

• Using your own data plan whenever you can (instead of connecting to public WiFi)
• Using a VPN from a reliable information source when WiFi is your only option
• Double-checking that a website is secure before you input any personal information
• Not tagging your exact live location on social media while traveling

Remember: your safety always comes first.

How to keep your digital and travel experience realistic

To be more mindful in your everyday travel experience, keep the following tips in mind.

1. Conduct your research beyond traditional social media

Don’t just rely on influencer content; seek out actual reviews from multiple sources. Travel forums, blogs, and reviews on Google Maps, etc., will provide you with a more accurate representation across a wider spectrum.

Look for posts that aren’t sponsored and seem genuine – with nothing to gain from their opinion, other than sharing the good word.

2. Think before you post

Be mindful or cautious if you share your location or where you are planning to be in the near future – could this put you at risk?

If you do want to post, consider sharing your posts after you have left that location.

3. Keep your devices secure

Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication tools when possible.

Be careful with QR codes and pop-ups – there’s been a significant surge in QR code phishing attacks, as well as an increasing sophistication of these threats.

4. Know when to unplug

Social media will still be there when you are done soaking up the moment. Let yourself be fully immersed in the present, and have moments that are fully offline.

Final thoughts

While social media may be motivating, it can also be deceptive. Missed buses, mistaken turns, and raw moments are all part of real travel, and that’s where the real experience is.

By being careful about what you eat and share, you can enjoy your trip, be safe, and maintain reasonable expectations. The experience, not the perks, is what makes travel so special.