Is Social Media Ruining Nature?

In Arizona, for example, the Horseshoe Bend overlook, which offers a scenic view of a canyon, has gone from something of a local secret to #instafamous. Roughly 2 million people now visit each year, compared with just a few thousand as recently as five years ago.

At many parks, bigger crowds tend to bring out those who are less experienced or prepared—and they often leave trash, cause traffic jams, and damage the environment when they wander off trails. Some places have also noticed an increase in medical emergencies. And while the number of visitors has gone up, park budgets and staff numbers have generally stayed the same, making it difficult for officials to handle the larger groups.

That’s why last November, the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board in Wyoming asked visitors to stop geotagging photographs on social media in an effort to protect the state’s pristine forests and remote lakes. They say that by sharing a precise location on Instagram, users put fragile ecosystems and wild animals at risk.

But many influencers say that they’re helping to bring business to areas that depend on tourists. Emily Breeze Ross Watson from Charlotte, North Carolina, visited Jackson Hole in 2018 and posted photos of herself posing with a herd of bison and strolling in sight of the Grand Tetons mountain range. The local Four Seasons resort paid her to tag her location for more than 63,000 followers to see.

“I definitely think it is cool to bring awareness to the area,” she says.

On their trip, Watson and a friend, Brittany Turner, visited Jenny Lake, a spot they say they found out about through Instagram posts.

“I was in awe of it,” Turner says. “I can’t imagine them getting mad.”

Take the Horseshoe Bend overlook in Arizona for example. The site offers a scenic view of a canyon. It’s gone from something of a local secret to #instafamous. Roughly 2 million people now visit each year. That’s a huge leap, compared with just a few thousand as recently as five years ago.

At many parks, bigger crowds tend to bring out those who are less experienced or prepared. The groups often leave trash and cause traffic jams. And when these visitors wander off trails, they damage the environment. Some places have also noticed an increase in medical emergencies. And while the number of visitors has gone up, park budgets and staff numbers have generally stayed the same. That’s making it difficult for officials to handle the larger groups.

For that exact reason, the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board in Wyoming took action last November. They asked visitors to stop geotagging photographs on social media. It was an effort to protect the state’s pristine forests and remote lakes. The board says that by sharing a precise location on Instagram, users put fragile ecosystems and wild animals at risk.

But many influencers say that they’re helping to bring business to areas that depend on tourists. Emily Breeze Ross Watson from Charlotte, North Carolina, visited Jackson Hole in 2018. She posted photos of herself posing with a herd of bison and strolling in sight of the Grand Tetons mountain range. The local Four Seasons resort paid her to tag her location for more than 63,000 followers to see.

“I definitely think it is cool to bring awareness to the area,” she says.

On their trip, Watson and a friend, Brittany Turner, visited Jenny Lake. They say they found out about the spot through Instagram posts.

“I was in awe of it,” Turner says. “I can’t imagine them getting mad.”

Of course, officials still welcome respectful visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the scenery. They’re less thrilled about influencers coming to shoot advertisements for products.

“We want people to have a real connection to nature,” says Jackson Hole tourism board member Brian Modena, “not just a page with a pin on it.”

But experts aren’t asking people to stop posting photographs altogether.

“While tagging can seem innocent, it can lead to significant impact,” says Dana Watts, executive director of Leave No Trace, an organization that promotes ethical use of public lands. “Just think twice before you do it. Take in the environment, what the conditions are, where it is, remoteness, pristineness, all those things—and then think about posting an exact location or posting something more general.”

Of course, officials still welcome respectful visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the scenery. They’re less thrilled about influencers coming to shoot advertisements for products.

“We want people to have a real connection to nature,” says Jackson Hole tourism board member Brian Modena, “not just a page with a pin on it.”

But experts aren’t asking people to stop posting photographs altogether.

“While tagging can seem innocent, it can lead to significant impact,” says Dana Watts, executive director of Leave No Trace, an organization that promotes ethical use of public lands. “Just think twice before you do it. Take in the environment, what the conditions are, where it is, remoteness, pristineness, all those things—and then think about posting an exact location or posting something more general.”

Jackson Hole suggests that rather than use a normal location tag, visitors try this generic one: “Tag Responsibly, Keep Jackson Hole Wild.” Other users have adopted the hashtag #nogeotag instead.

Some influencers are also encouraging others to be respectful while they’re taking pictures outside. Gulin Cetin, who traveled from Los Angeles to see the super bloom, says she brought her own flowers so she wouldn’t need to pick any wild ones. And travel blogger Jacob Fu says he and his wife found creative ways to shoot the flowers without trampling them. “There are plenty of dirt trails to walk around in,” he says. “We’re always . . . trying to be very responsible of how we take the photos and staying on trails.”

Jackson Hole suggests that visitors don’t use a normal location tag. Instead they recommend trying this generic one: “Tag Responsibly, Keep Jackson Hole Wild.” Other users have adopted the hashtag #nogeotag instead.

Some influencers are also encouraging others to be respectful while they’re taking pictures outside. Gulin Cetin traveled from Los Angeles to see the super bloom. She says she brought her own flowers so she wouldn’t need to pick any wild ones. And travel blogger Jacob Fu says he and his wife found creative ways to shoot the flowers without trampling them. “There are plenty of dirt trails to walk around in,” he says. “We’re always . . . trying to be very responsible of how we take the photos and staying on trails.”

With reporting by Laura M. Holson and Zak Stone of The New York Times.

With reporting by Laura M. Holson and Zak Stone of The New York Times.