No matter how irrelevant social media sometimes seems, there are a lot of us who still feel the nagging compulsion to send a Tweet with ten hashtags or Instagram our half-eaten dinner because hey – why not? For travelers, social media is a great way to stay connected to the places we love, even when we’re not there. Here are a few tips for making sure you’re obeying the laws of Internet etiquette while on-the-go.
Take Pictures, But Not Too Many
Do I want to see that snapshot of you in a cozy French café? Sure! I’ll even throw in a “like.” Do I want to see five? Not really, but alright! Twelve? I’m officially un-following you on Instagram. Be courteous about what you post, especially when you post it all at once. Not only will people un-follow you, but you’ll become an annoyance. Think about social media the same way you talk to someone IRL (Internet slang for “in real life”). Conversations are give-and-take, i.e., not always about you. Conversely, a picture without you in it is a lot less interesting than one with you. We’ve all seen someone’s blurry picture of the Eiffel Tower. It’s much more exciting when you’re standing in front of it. www.instagram.com
#UseHashtagsAsYourGuide
Looking for stuff to do? If you want real-time information about what’s happening around you, scour Twitter and Instagram for relevant hashtags. For example, let’s say you’re in Tokyo and you’re looking for a place to eat. Search #Tokyo #Restaurant on Twitter and see what people have to say about nearby outposts. Then do the same search on Instagram and get a preview of what’s cooking. Travel related Twitter chats, like ours here at Travel Squire (#TRAVEX), are also a great way to find tips and travel advice. Every Wednesday at 5pm EST, travel bloggers, experts, and enthusiasts from around the world follow the #TRAVEX hashtag and discuss the week’s topic. This week, we’re discussing – you guessed it: social media on the road! www.twitter.com
Foursquare Is Your Friend
Foursquare is one of the best social media sites for traveling. Why? A couple reasons: first, it serves as a memory of where you went while you were on vacation. If you’re anything like me, you have a hard time remembering where you got lunch yesterday. Foursquare keeps a log of everything, so when you’re explaining to your friends about how gorgeous that park in Cape Town was, the name of it is stored right on your smartphone. Second, Foursquare provides user reviews and suggestions of almost every location. Since you log your whereabouts, it can tell you a highly-rated attraction that’s nearby. www.foursquare.com
Don’t Be an Oversharer
Traveling is full of exciting moments, and maybe some NSFW (not suitable for work) ones, too. That’s when we use our journals—not our Facebook statuses. Nobody needs to know all the dirt on your couples getaway to the Amalfi Coast, and we definitely don’t need photographic evidence. Some other topics that shouldn’t make it to Facebook: recreational drug use with locals and negative reviews of restaurants or hotels (unless it was REALLY bad and you want to save someone from the same experience), and how about not posting too many things at once (you’ll clog up your friends’ news feeds). www.facebook.com
Connect With Others
Sites like Meetup.com are especially useful for solo travelers. There, you can find groups of locals and tourists in every country in the world getting together for any reason imaginable. Want to meet fellow movie buffs on your solo vacation to Denmark? Join the Copenhagen Cinema Club, which has regular screenings of English language films. There’s also the option of creating your own group, so you can meet the friends you’ve made on Twitter and other social media sites in person. www.meetup.com