But I got a little freaked out when I heard that not everyone was on the same page as me. I thought we all knew the colour of the ocean in that particular holiday snap had been brightened and saturated and filtered within an inch of its life.
But it turns out this party of "people in the know" is much smaller than I first thought. Instead of loving the obvious unrealistic pics for what they are (unrealistic, hello!), people are making life choices and booking holidays based on these #fakestagram.
So here's the thing, it turns out there are a ton of peeps, 67 per cent to be precise according to a report by Expedia, who are into booking a holiday based on how Instagrammable (yup, that's totally a word) it is. And get this, it's mainly the fellas.
I know, right! That's a whopping 63 per cent of dudes who rate instagramability as super important. (Mr. Gazel, my year 12 math teacher would be so proud I'm using
percentages).
I was lucky enough to go on some pretty excellent overseas holidays when I was a kid where we went to Fiji, Hawaii and America #blessed #humble. Back in the old day, our bags weren't packed with straw hats, enormous flamingo floaties and fifty outfit changes.
All we had were our swimmers, tubs of sunscreen and a week's supply of Vegemite and off we went, having the time of our lives. Now it's all #yolo, #hotdoglegs and #eatpraylove - come on guys!
OK Mr. Gazel these stats are for you. 45 per cent of millennials and Gen X spend up to an hour a day on social media while travelling. AN HOUR A DAY!
That's like going to the movies and only staying for the previews (I didn't say I was good at percentages, I just said Mr. Gazel would be happy I was referencing them).
Along with this, 3.3 million Aussies have admitted to posting a fake holiday on Instagram.
What the actual?
Come on y'all (I've met Harry Connick Jnr, so I'm allowed to say y'all). We need to get back to posting real pics that tell a story, the ones we can show the grandkids, not just the ones that show how great your bum looks when you pose like that.
I get sad when I see people on their phones because it's the crazy memories that happen while we're on holidays and would you believe it, they often happen when we're not looking down at our phones!
We can do this, I really think we can. I'm not saying we boycott social media (oh god, please don't quit Insta and for the love of God, PLEASE DON'T QUIT ME!) but we can all hold virtual hands and collectively post endearing photos, without a care of what people are thinking and get back to the #joyoftravel.
