That perfect selfie is often a part of a very ugly picture.
The rise of the travel influencer has transformed the way we discover and dream about new destinations. These creators, with their stunning photos and millions of followers, have the power to turn a sleepy, unknown village into a global hotspot overnight. This power, however, is a double-edged sword. A new wave of irresponsible influencer behavior is having a devastating impact on the very places they claim to love.
They are not just documenting the world; in many cases, they are actively participating in its destruction, often for the sake of a single, perfect shot.
1. The “sacred site stuntperson” shows no respect.
This is the type of influencer who travels to a sacred temple, a historic church, or a memorial and treats it like a personal photo studio. They will do a handstand in front of a religious altar, climb on a delicate ancient ruin for a better angle, or wear a completely inappropriate outfit in a place of worship, all for the sake of an edgy and “disruptive” photo, according to Business Insider.
This behavior is profoundly disrespectful to the local culture and the spiritual significance of the site. It shows a complete lack of awareness and encourages their followers to treat these sacred places as nothing more than an aesthetic backdrop.
2. The “slum tourist” exploits the vulnerable.
This influencer travels to a developing country and uses the local poverty as a backdrop for their own personal brand-building. They will post a photo of themselves looking sad while surrounded by impoverished children, often with a long, self-congratulatory caption about how “humbled” they are. This is a deeply exploitative practice that turns human hardship into a content opportunity, as mentioned at Medium.com.
These influencers often do nothing to actually help the communities they are photographing. They are using the local people as props in their own story, a modern form of colonialist fantasy that is both offensive and deeply unethical.
3. The “natural vandal” leaves a permanent scar.
This is the type of person who feels entitled to leave their mark on the natural world. They will scratch their name or their social media handle into an ancient tree or a delicate sandstone rock formation. They will also participate in the trend of building “rock cairns” in pristine natural landscapes, which can be damaging to the local ecosystem and which ruins the sense of discovery for others, Forbes reported.
This behavior is a form of environmental vandalism, a selfish act that permanently damages a beautiful place for the sake of a temporary photo op. It is a profound disrespect for nature.
4. The “luxury leech” demands freebies from small businesses.
This is the person who uses their follower count as a weapon to demand free hotel stays, meals, and services from small, local businesses. They will send an email promising “exposure” in exchange for a freebie, and will often become aggressive or threaten a bad review if the business declines. This is a form of digital extortion.
A small, family-run hotel or restaurant often cannot afford to give away their services for free, and the promised exposure rarely translates into any real business. This exploitative practice is a major problem in the industry, hurting the very local businesses that are the heart of a destination.
5. The “off-road offender” drives wherever they want.
This travel type will rent a 4×4 or an ATV and will ignore the clearly marked roads and trails, driving off into fragile desert, grassland, or tundra ecosystems to get a more dramatic and “wild” shot. This can cause irreversible damage to the delicate vegetation and soil, leaving ugly scars on the landscape that can take decades or even centuries to heal.
This is a particularly common problem in the deserts of California and the American West. It is an incredibly destructive and selfish act that shows a complete disregard for the preservation of our public lands.
6. The “cultural costume wearer” turns heritage into a caricature.
This is the person who will wear a sacred or traditional cultural garment, like a Native American headdress or a Japanese kimono, as a fun and aesthetic “costume” for a photo shoot, often without any understanding of the item’s deep cultural or religious significance. This is a form of cultural appropriation that can be deeply offensive to the people of that culture.
It reduces a meaningful part of a community’s heritage into a simple fashion accessory, stripping it of its context and its power. A respectful traveler should admire and learn about traditional garments, not wear them as a costume.
7. The “food waste feaster” does it all for the ‘gram.
You have likely seen the photo: an influencer sitting in front of a table that is completely covered in a ridiculously large and photogenic spread of food. It is a visual feast, a picture of incredible abundance. The dirty secret is that this is often a complete fabrication for the sake of the photo. The influencer will order a huge amount of food, take their perfect picture, and then waste almost all of it.
This is a particularly ugly and wasteful trend, especially when it is done in countries where many people are struggling with food insecurity. It is the ultimate symbol of consumption for the sake of appearances.
8. The “scammer sympathizer” promotes unethical businesses.
In exchange for a free tour or a payment, this influencer will promote a deeply unethical tourist attraction, leading their trusting followers into a bad situation. The most common example of this is the promotion of cruel animal attractions, like elephant riding camps or places where you can pet a sedated tiger. These are places that are built on animal abuse.
By giving these places their stamp of approval, the influencer is directly contributing to the continuation of this cruel industry. They are using their platform to legitimize an abusive business, a serious and harmful breach of their followers’ trust.
9. The “giveaway guru” creates public chaos.
This is the influencer who, in a misguided attempt at a viral stunt, will announce a “giveaway” of cash or merchandise at a specific public location. They fail to understand that their massive online following can translate into a real-world mob scene. These events have led to dangerous and chaotic situations in public squares and parks that are not equipped to handle the sudden arrival of thousands of people.
This behavior is incredibly irresponsible and shows a complete disregard for public safety and order. It is a selfish act that uses their followers as props in a stunt that can easily get out of control.
10. The “flash mob organizer” disrupts daily life.
Similar to the giveaway guru, this is the influencer who will organize a disruptive event, like a flash mob or a public prank, in a busy public space like a train station or a historic square. Their goal is to create a viral video, but in the process, they cause a huge amount of disruption and annoyance for the local people who are just trying to go about their daily lives.
This kind of behavior is the epitome of “main character syndrome,” where the influencer sees the entire world and everyone in it as the supporting cast in their own personal movie. It is a deeply selfish and disrespectful way to travel.