New research has unpacked Brits’ attitudes to holiday snaps on social media, revealing over two thirds (66%) would avoid posting altogether rather than risk posting content deemed ‘basic’ by their Instagram followers and Facebook friends.
The study of 2,000 UK adults also found two in five (38%) have muted a friend on social media for holiday-spam offences, and almost half (44%) would go as far as unfollowing someone for using cringey captions.
According to the findings from holiday experts On the Beach, the most cringeworthy holiday content captions are:
- Suns out, buns out (20%)
- Hot dogs or legs? (20%)
- Life’s a beach (19%)
- Be rude not to (18%)
- Wish you were beer (18%)
- Another day in paradise (18%)
- Vacation mode: on (16%)
- Girls just want to have sun (16%)
- Catch flights, not feelings (16%)
- Wish you were here (16%).
Over half (55%) confess they miss how holidays used to be before social media became so prevalent, yet 38% admitted they share snaps post-travel to keep that holiday feeling alive. The research also found we spend an average of 44 minutes a day capturing and posting holiday content – the equivalent of nearly 10 hours during a two-week break!
What’s more, 29% admit booking destinations based on how it will look on their social feed. Barbados, Santorini, and St Tropez were named among the most ‘Instagrammable’ holidays around, as well as the Maldives, Cancun, and Cape Town.
When asked about the most cliche holiday pics on social, the travel snaps giving Brits the biggest ick were revealed to be:
- Gratuitous bikini shots (28%)
- Hot dogs or legs shots (27%)
- Hands joining to create a heart in front of a sunset shots (27%)
- First airport beer photo (25%)
- Boarding pass and passport on a table in the airport shot (24%)
Discussing the renewed interest in getting back to the beach this year and the return of travel content,
Tom Read Wilson, wordsmith and resident ‘Agony Uncle’ on Celebs Go Dating, said:
“Summer 2022 sees the return of the long-awaited beach break, and it’s likely jet-setters will be feeling the poolside-pressure to revamp their bleak, Blighty-based social media grids with some colourful sun, sea and sand. The truth is that the #holiday is back. So, incidentally, is the holiday hashtag. But after a few years of tiresome travel restrictions, many will be out of practice and may risk going more OTT than beautiful sand and sea.”
As over a third (39%) of those surveyed reveal they struggle to come up with engaging captions for their own posts, Tom shares his top tips and inspiration for perfecting your travel posts:
- Get real: Beach-side breaks will give you plenty of magic moments to choose from, but when the time comes to drop some vacay content, don’t overthink it. People tend to engage with posts which are more authentic so try to avoid falling into the trap of only posting the best bits.
- You bought the flight, so flaunt it! It’s important to remember you have earned your holiday. Saved for months, waited for travel restrictions to ease, and now it’s time to celebrate. Your best chums will know this and likely have holiday plans of their own to look forward to. Your posts have the power to heighten their anticipation and allow them to cheer on your richly deserved rest.
- Pack in the puns: Holidays are the perfect time to get #puntastic. How about #vacationcrustacean for that impossibly delicious seafood pasta you have snapped? For the glorious holiday tipple that goes with it, try #vacationlibation. Depending on what you have selected, you might even flirt with stonkingly original hashtags such as #bikinimartini or #swimsuitflute.
- Everyone loves a LOL: #Holidayhastags are key to whether your buddies back in Blighty look at your posts with envy or admiration (and find themselves tickled or irked). The key to unlocking likes is always going to be #hashtaghumour. Your wit has the power to have your followers eating out of the palm of your hand. Maybe your sunny Spanish hotel has been met with rain whilst there’s a heat wave back in Britain? Own it on IG and share the funny side!
- Next stop, paradise: The easiest way to avoid the trap of a #holidaycliche is to make your #digidiary as bespoke as possible. This begins with sharing your dreamy chosen holiday destination. For example, you might take us on a #costadelstroll through the Costa del Sol, decide to be #IndisCrete about your adventures in Greece or even show us just how #tenerific Tenerife is.
Zoe Harris, Chief Customer Officer at On the Beach, said: “Since restrictions across Europe eased, we’ve seen a HUGE increase in beach holiday bookings, which means we’re set for a summer of sun, sea and sandy social content. This year, we’re encouraging people to get real on social media, celebrating everything that comes with a holiday – showing off the favourite and funniest bits of their trips. We believe holidays should be enjoyed for what they are – a break from normality and a chance to relax. Admittedly, we all love the attention we get when posting about our sun-soaked beach break, but it can be enjoyed so much more by living in the moment.”
For more information about On the Beach’s offers for summer 2022, head to www.onthebeach.co.uk
