Is Social Media a Valid Source?
Can you really do "research" via social media? Turns out you can! Find out some neat tips & tricks on how to get an inside look at your next travel destination!
Can you really do "research" via social media? Turns out you can! Find out some neat tips & tricks on how to get an inside look at your next travel destination!
Can I add Instagram as a source on my works cited?
No. Sorry. Don't get that excited. Please don't try that at school.
When it comes to travel though, social media is one of the best sources! Social platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat can really offer you some of the best travel advice, tips, and insight. How so?
Well, when Snapchat released the Snap Map in the summer of 2017, travel lovers alike got a whole new resource! The Snap Map is super easy to navigate and use, and I'll show you with some pictures in a minute. Let me first explain how it works:
The Snap Map has certain locations across the globe that you can click on and see different people's stories from that area that were posted in the last 24 hours. This tool is extremely useful when you want to see what's happening in an area right now. As an example, when The Bahamas was hit with a huge hurricane, I had some clients that were still interested in going to Nassau. We were able to use the Snap Map (and Instagram which I'll get to in a bit) to see exactly what the conditions were like at the resort they were looking at. Really, truly an amazingly powerful tool.
Instagram stories are similar, showing you exactly what is going on in an area from real people across the globe. What's neat is that you may search any location - anything from an entire country to a city to a specific park. Since stories are only visible for 24 hours, it is forever changing. You may have people posting videos or photos from around a city, or even inside a restaurant that makes you want to go there! It's a great way to expand your knowledge before heading somewhere.
I specifically used this tool (nearly everyday) before I went to Japan. I would search all the major spots I was headed to: Tokyo Disneyland, Shibuya, Akihabara, etc. It let me know what to expect when I arrived and helped me become more familiar with my surroundings. Sometimes I think I watched too many stories, as by the time my trip came around, I almost felt like I had already been there!
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think!