If Instagram didn’t exist…

Drawing the line between documenting memories and letting documentation influence your memories

By Kiera Dunlevy

Photo by Noah Price

“Would people even study abroad if they couldn’t post on Instagram?”

This is a question I have seen surface on social media over the last couple of years. It’s meant mostly to be taken as a joke—but it haunts me every time I catch myself spending an embarrassing amount of time framing the perfect Instagram story during my travels. I like to think that no matter the state of the internet, I would still seek out travel. After all, I have talked about my longing to see the world since I was a little kid.

But, with the evolution of media and how we’ve consumed it over the last two decades, our approaches to travel have largely shifted. I’d even argue that none of us are immune to social media’s influence. From waiting hours in line for a TikTok-famous coffee shop to structuring itineraries around capturing the perfect photo dump, it has become easy to lose sight of the true purpose of travel—the exploration.

I have found that when you allow virality and aesthetic opportunities to dictate your travel plans, you typically find yourself stuck in the rhythm of mindlessly checking off “must-hit” spots (which you will obviously provide proof of in your well-curated Instagram dump). You find yourself underwhelmed against the high expectations set via your TikTok saves. It becomes way too easy to measure your travels by the aesthetic quality of their documentation, rather than the lived moments that make up the trip.

This phenomenon has also changed the landscape of tourist destinations. While stores and restaurants that struck luck with social media virality attempt to manage lines wrapped around the block, other local gems struggle to compete for attention. Established businesses are sometimes forced to choose between authenticity and catering to this new age of tourism.

While I really do not see using TikTok and Instagram for assistance while building a travel itinerary as a problem, I do think the idea that you need a thorough itinerary filled with “must-hit” spots in the first place deprives you of the more rewarding aspects of travel. When you get too caught up in checking off every viral location a city has to offer, you tend to leave yourself with less time to explore and lose yourself in a new place.

So, it’s not to say that the viral spots are never worth it—TikTok has introduced me to my go-to coffee shops in New York, vintage markets in London I could spend endless hours wandering, and probably the best cinnamon roll I’ve ever tasted in Florence. But on the other hand, some of the best meals I’ve had abroad were served at hidden restaurants we stumbled upon while starving. Some of my favorite pieces of jewelry were purchased at flea markets we wouldn’t have discovered had we turned a different city corner.

While social media can serve as a great source to guide you as you explore an entirely new place, do not deprive yourself of your own discovery. Just because something may not make it onto your Instagram doesn’t mean it won’t be worth your time.