The Danger of Toxic Travel in the Age of Social Media

Travel is good for your health, acting as therapy for both body and mind. By escaping the daily routine, travelers breathe fresh air, reduce stress, and are able to rebalance their emotions. As we discussed in... previous articlesEach new destination provides essential pauses for self-discovery, rest, and inner renewal. Furthermore, it's an unmissable opportunity to experience new discoveries – whether through experiences, music, flavors, or interpersonal relationships. 

Unfortunately, however, what should be a revitalizing activity may be becoming toxic and harmful.

Technology and its impact on the travel experience.

Technological evolution has radically transformed the way we travel. It has allowed easy access to itineraries, content, and information, as well as simplifying the purchase of airline tickets, hotel reservations, or restaurant bookings. Social networks, in turn, have created a new era of sharing, where experiences are now instantly displayed to the world. 

However, this excessive exposure has become compulsive, generating a reversal of values, where the need to share is greater than the experience of traveling. Travel has become superficial and... instagrammablewhere authentic moments are replaced by the cell phone screen, recording selfies (self-portraits) used to generate likes (likes) and empty comments. 

The danger of superficiality and Instagramism

Why learn about the history of Rome or take a guided tour of the Palace of Versailles, when we can replace that knowledge with a... Selfie In front of the Colosseum or in the Hall of Mirrors? Why visit traditional restaurants frequented by locals when we can switch to crowded tourist environments climbing on sofas and waving napkins, just to post photos on social media? stories (Instagram video tool)?

When I traveled to a village in southern Bahia, near a Pataxó reserve, I stayed in a hotel that had a Buddha head in front of a Balinese-style pool – beautiful photos but zero authenticity.

The pursuit of immediate pleasure

The immediate pleasure generated by a "like" is stronger than the long-term pleasure generated by the real sensations of the trip. The author, Dr. Anna Lembke, discusses this topic in her book. Dopamine NationAccording to studies, between 1990 and 2017, the number of new cases of depression grew by 50% worldwide, mainly in regions with the highest socio-demographic indicators. In an attempt to escape suffering, people take medication and drugs, binge-watch Netflix, seek out social media; anything is valid to distract us from ourselves. 

However, all this attempt to isolate ourselves from suffering only makes our suffering worse. According to Dr. Lembke, science teaches us that every pleasure comes at a price, and the suffering that follows lasts longer and is more intense than the pleasure from which it originated. This excess of dopamine released by social media ends up bringing more anxiety and suffering to people.

When someone else's trip becomes toxic for you.

How many times have you felt like the entire social network was enjoying the vacation of a lifetime while you were working alone? Or had to work during holidays while everyone else was celebrating with friends and family? Perhaps, after a wonderful trip, you spent the following months on Instagram watching others enjoy their travels and experiences, and felt empty, isolated, and abandoned. 

Social media, by amplifying these feelings, creates the false illusion that other people's lives are perfect and better than our own, leaving a great void. We stop valuing what we have and start desiring what belongs to others. 

There is a term in English to define this, the FOMO – fear of missing out, (fear of being left out, in Portuguese)This refers to the feeling of anxiety when faced with the possibility of not participating in activities, events, or opportunities, especially when following what other people are doing through social media. This anxiety can lead to low self-esteem, irritability, stress, and even depression, fueling a cycle of dissatisfaction and emotional emptiness.

Ostentation, fear, and insecurity

According to one article published by Rony MeislerAccording to the founder and former CEO of Reserva, what appears to be vanity on the internet is actually an expression of fear and insecurity. Those who flaunt their wealth do so out of fear of not being taken seriously or not meeting the expectations of others without the necessary confidence.armor of appearanceThis search for validation, fueled by the fear of not fitting in, contributes to a toxic cycle of pleasure. versus depression, where the immediate reward generated by likes It replaces the genuine satisfaction of authentic experiences. 

a final thought

It's worth reflecting on: are our travels contributing to the toxicity on social media? What if, instead of competing to see who posts the most content, we transformed our trips into authentic experiences, whose essence is impossible to share in photos or videos? How about, instead of spending so much energy and dedication on sharing... onlineShould we relive the old custom of gathering with friends, family, and those who truly matter, to share travel experiences and strengthen bonds?