How Social Media Is Ruining All Our Experiences

Last weekend I went on a hike with some friends to Gembleng Waterfall in Sidemen, Bali. A beautiful spot inland, situated between rows of lush green rice fields and traditional Balinese villages. It doesn’t get more picture perfect.

Though the waterfall is now a little touristy, the area is taken care of by locals and only a donation fee is required to enter, it very much still holds its true charm and it never got too busy with tourists whilst we were there. What I also discovered, was an Influencer’s wet dream.

Influencers Need To Have More Awareness

Half way up the climb there is a gorgeous spot within the rocks where a natural ‘jacuzzi’ pool has formed, overlooking the views of Sidemen. It’s only big enough for a few people to sit in and it’s stunning. Sadly, me and my friends never got to experience the pool. Why? Because a couple sat in there the entire time taking photo after photo, video after video, pose after pose.

Whilst I was stood patiently waiting, it did occur to me that this couple might make £5,000 just from this shoot, and all they had to do was climb a waterfall. So I can’t blame them as I immediately reconsidered all of my life choices. In all seriousness though, after a while I realised I was watching them and feeling annoyed, instead of enjoying my surroundings in beautiful Bali.

We carried on walking and figured they would be done by the time we got to the top and came back down. How wrong we were, the boyfriend now had a drone out and started taking more photos. I could see a little girl and her mum waiting to experience the jacuzzi pool but they couldn’t either.

I am not saying all ‘Influencers’ are this selfish but people need to have some awareness, because some of us are actually there to enjoy the waterfall and to make memories, not get ‘likes’ or money.

Social Media Is Ruining Experiences For Influencers Too

This got me thinking, are the ‘Influencers’ actually enjoying themselves and living in the moment? You take 27 pictures of your dinner to get the perfect shot, by which time it’s gone cold and forcing everyone else to wait for you before they can start. Do you even enjoy your food then?

That remarkable sunset in Costa Rica you posted to your feed, can you remember it? You might remember taking the picture, but memories are a combination of events and feelings. You might as well have just googled a sunset and posted that.

I can’t imagine the couple taking the waterfall picture came all the way to Bali to get that shot, so were they really enjoying the experience or did they spoil it for themselves too?

I know people take ‘breaks’ from social media, which is questionable in itself because if you feel like you need to take a break from something, is it actually good for you? People take breaks from alcohol, drugs, destructive relationships, toxic friends, cigarettes. All things that are bad for us. But even when you ‘switch off’ from social media, if you see a photo opportunity, you are gonna jump at the chance to capture it.

Social Media Is Setting Us Up For Disappointment

I did a quick search on Instagram of #gemblengwaterfall to do a compare and contrast of what I know to be true (because I was there) vs what Instagram shows us.

Real Life

Instagram Life

An unfiltered view of the waterfall and surrounding scenery at not the best angle.

Heavily filtered images of water cascading down the rocks and unrealistic colours of landscape.

At least 15 other people also visiting the easy to find waterfall.

Only them at a ‘secret’ waterfall.

People taking an excessive amount of photos at various stages of the hike.

The single perfect shot.

“Check yourself for leeches when you get out“.

“Experiences, not things. #bali #waterfall #travel #bucketlist”.

Social media is leading us to believe things that aren’t 100% true and we are being set up for disappointment. One of the many reasons we need to stop idolising influencers. People feel the need to create the ‘unbelievable’ and ‘perfect’ scenarios to post on their feed. Then, when us ‘ordinary people’ go to these places with such high expectations, it is likely we are going to be disappointed, even though they are still incredible. Can we truly appreciate them?

I’m not saying Influencers are lying and creating a scene which is entirely computer generated, the waterfall really does exist, but it’s more how far the reality is being warped that is the problem.

Experiencing Life For The Gram

I have friends that only want to go to places so they can get the Instagram shot they’ve seen themselves. This is a problem for a number of similar reasons already discussed:

1) Are they actually enjoying themselves if they are only there to take a picture.
2) If you are only there to take a picture you are ruining the experience for other people who would prefer the place to be less busy.
3) They are not living life with the right purpose.
4) Is this actually fulfilling them?

We all need to spend a bit more time living in the real world, relishing special moments and not taking anything for granted. Will you look back on your life and be pleased you created that cool hair flick video in the waterfall for your social media? Probably not.

If you need help moving away from the traditional Social Media, I would recommend the Insight Timer app, it’s a free resource that gives you access to meditations, courses, workshops, events, music and so much more, but all aimed at mindfulness and self development.

Amber x