In today’s society, many people may want to upload their photos after a nice vacation. However, a “simple” post is not as simple as it may seem; many factors come up, such as choosing the right photo for the aesthetic someone is trying to convey, how many pictures they upload in total and choosing the right caption or song to fit the post. From a glance, it seems unimportant, but in reality, it actually causes unnecessary pressure of posting all of the highlights to portray the ideal, perfect vacation that everyone dreams of.
In order to prepare for their posts, someone could be lost in the moment, only focusing on taking photos or how it turns out, instead of spending quality time with their friends or family or taking in what is around them. It creates the ideology of taking photos just for the approval and approbation of others, for a sense of validation for their vacation. This hurts the sense of enjoying life and interrupts their time of rest because, in their normal lives, they already may seek validation through school, work, or other activities.
One can also easily get lost in the real moment of vacation, which takes away from the sense of presently living in the moment and enjoying for one’s own pleasure, and essentially digitizes their lives. It creates the idea of seeing these experiences only through the lenses of a screen rather than in-person which takes away from its true beauty through fully taking in the moment. It is important to enjoy these times since they do not occur often and since they are a time of rest from busy lifestyles.
The worry of a perfect vacation post not only happens during the preparation of a post, but also after, as one compares their pictures to someone else’s vacation posts. Often, thoughts such as “Their vacation seems better than mine” or “I wish I did this” can degrade their vacation experience. This degradation can make one feel their vacation was not worth it, undermining the importance of a break. It can also bring down one’s self-confidence and a sense of insecurity, due to constantly worrying about what others will perceive them as.
These factors can all lead to how the concept of having to post everything perfect about a vacation could essentially be harmful. Ways to escape from this unwritten rule could be simply taking a break from social media. It can allow one to not worry about having the picture-perfect vacation but rather allow them to focus on their rest and time. The unwritten rule of having to post every little thing should be broken for the sake of oneself and one’s happiness.
