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Selfies and social media: how tourists indulge their influencer fantasies

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brendan-canavan-228682">Brendan Canavan</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-nottingham-1192">University of Nottingham</a></em></p> <p>A town in the US state of Vermont <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/vermont-town-banning-influencers-tourists-visiting-fall-foliage-rcna117413">closed its roads to tourists</a> in September 2023 after a social media tag sparked a swarm of visitors that overwhelmed the rural destination.</p> <p>Videos on TikTok were seen by thousands and the hashtag #sleepyhollowfarm went viral, prompting a tourist rush to the pretty New England town of Pomfret, where visitors tried to take photos of themselves against the countryside backdrop. The town, famous for its fall foliage, criticised this as problematic and “influencer tourism”, part of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160738320300426">a travel trend</a> where a social media phenomenon can spark an overwhelming and unexpected rise in visitor numbers.</p> <p><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0002764292036002005?casa_token=gQo4-8jeYdIAAAAA:Oq3Nf5gTtAFK7N00D1NgPO7_zl9ONlOEnzFZnojX6fX1nKXQWJZ4ERn52MlV3abn4fDN4_C4hJjq">Traditionally</a>, we think of tourists as travelling to gain new experiences. They look at sites, take photographs and collect souvenirs. However, this relationship between the tourist and touring is changing.</p> <p>Driven by <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/how-instagram-changed-the-tourism-industry/a-65348690">24-hour access to social media</a>, some tourists now travel primarily to have an experience that <a href="https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/travel/discover/get-inspired/Global-Travel-Trends">looks good online</a>. Around 75% of people in a recent American Express survey said they had been inspired to visit somewhere by social media. Some tourists may be prompted to choose a destination by seeing a <a href="https://www.elle.com/culture/travel-food/a27561982/best-instagram-spots/">backdrop that is popular on social media or on television</a>, in order to create a high-status photo.</p> <p>The expansion of social media and ubiquity of smartphone cameras has had a <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/13/7312">major impact on tourists’ behaviour</a>. This has also led to what’s been called a <a href="https://www.traveldailynews.com/column/articles/who-are-the-selfie-gaze-tourists/">selfie “tourist gaze”</a>, creating photos where the traveller is at the forefront of images rather than the destination.</p> <p>Indeed, according to my research, increasingly, some tourists go somewhere <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160738320300426">to be spotted</a> – to be observed by others both online and in person at these destinations.</p> <h2>Looking for drama</h2> <p>Studies have highlighted how tourists <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261517715300388?casa_token=W51WkDKJSK8AAAAA:DG99dEWkyYKWIe6hNcLXR4KRApXV24QksHIzrRNcjVY3FngukDgIv9HLHG4o3NV4rqNJtdet">head for</a> particularly dramatic or luxurious destinations because of their social media links. Dubai, for example, with its bling culture and high-end shopping, has become a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/17/in-this-world-social-media-is-everything-how-dubai-became-the-planets-influencer-capital">playground for influencers</a> looking for a luxury backdrop to add to their celebrity-style image.</p> <p>Some tourists aim to photograph themselves in prestigious locations, rather than taking shots of their <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/13567667221113079?casa_token=xbdUjWECQvMAAAAA:mc4rqleOqgjazW9DAYduW7LaPTu4KEw1DIfbPbWF0vl0efwNPC_GQ0U-HjltguwsIsCoO4ycXgyW7Q">travel surroundings</a>. Others choose to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160738320300426">act like mini-celebrities</a> and perform for the camera, expecting and wanting to be looked at by those they encounter – or even narrating their participation in extreme events.</p> <p>One of these is the <a href="https://www.theadventurists.com/rickshaw-run/">Rickshaw Run</a>, a 2,000km race across India. This adventure tourism event encourages participants to dress up, act eccentrically and get noticed. Driving tuk-tuks around India, from Kerala to Darjeeling, vehicles are personalised with eye-catching designs. Many participants film themselves and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p3wd0ii2oQ">upload the results</a> to social media, and the events tend to create a significant following. For instance, this YouTube video series created by Rickshaw Run participants drew 3.6m subscribers:</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2p3wd0ii2oQ?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Taking part in the Rickshaw Run.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>However, some of these tourist “performances” can cause controversy. For instance, <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/mexico-tourist-beaten-with-stick-for-climbing-chichen-itza-pyramid/EL5KGLB4CNC5ZONNZCKAMX3LLE/">climbing over</a> fragile archaeological sites in search of social media content might damage them. <a href="https://www.unilad.com/news/russian-tourist-deported-nude-photo-bali-064402-20230330">Posing for laughs</a> in areas considered sacred can offend. The reducing of cultures to <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/selfie-tourists-get-up-easter-islanders-noses-sgfxdtkj7">backdrops for social media content</a> can suggest a lack of interest in or respect for hosts by tourists.</p> <p>My research points to a growth in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09669582.2016.1263309">narcissism in society</a>, and connects this with what tourists desire from travel and how they act when travelling. This may be reflected in increased sense of entitlement and exhibitionism by tourists who aim to take photos in more difficult to reach locations or off-limit areas, for instance.</p> <p>Selfie culture arguably promotes <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09528822.2015.1082339?casa_token=tbsXw1drBAEAAAAA:qfSfJBbHWi3x8MSVeoyHBIceP7W_8C55rVctylf-2zRBzx-aG_EeFwvTmHHsOdjQpMd8LVaUrjSo">self-involvement rather than social responsibility</a>. It is well established that tourists <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/1368350050408668198?casa_token=K4p5aZCN8t4AAAAA:96p7f3qNu2WndpE-C-D0rs5mJaOlnJ5F6P4iXQlWQopseMGWuJ_5TiaFmRggxFsEjrMCoAr14Kn4">can be selfish</a>, putting their own comfort and entertainment ahead of concerns about local issues. This is especially true of the super-rich. Private jet users <a href="https://www.transportenvironment.org/discover/private-jets-can-the-super-rich-supercharge-zero-emission-aviation/">are responsible for</a> half of global aviation emissions.</p> <p>However, the desire to promote the individual and their values could be <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09669582.2016.1263309">harnessed to promote</a> more sustainable tourism. Those volunteering abroad might be motivated by the image enhancement opportunities of doing good, but they often offer something back to the social and natural environments of <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09669580903395030?casa_token=NvJorz8d1F4AAAAA:AXXTdW7ePimqFkWNg1W5w8umGCBwXIjus0WICRIoNZH_gsdr1hHomvMAQV21PYA2HkLwBGsO_Qus8g">their host destinations</a> in the process.</p> <p>There are signs that there’s another tourism trend, with travellers looking for deep and meaningful experiences, and ecotourism could help provide those. The act of travelling in a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09669582.2020.1825458">more environmentally friendly way</a> could also be seen as a way to show off, and still provide selfie material.</p> <p>The environmental pros and cons of tourist self-obsession might be <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09669582.2016.1263309">debatable</a>. However, self-fixation is arguably not good for tourists themselves. For example, the desire to “perform” on camera could affect people’s mental health, according to one <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10253866.2018.1467318?casa_token=wI7sETKEKJAAAAAA:ebds6fykbyHAGSXIk9iv6-tyziFSIvganp32S65hiX8KeWlaQDwhPxF_2tWEgkNqssqd-SCE-w_3Eg">study</a>.</p> <p>Research has shown that <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14616688.2012.762691?casa_token=Jb9SzAGXBD0AAAAA:L5Q-HhPs9jWtfm0Zq4nB0uFHrZ3W8N7o1Liq0KAIRqC4ivEhKyEexEZN-ACoz1qzm7CMqD96zXOm">unexpected encounters help tourists to gain self-insight</a>. In addition, getting out of your comfort zone can lead to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213078020300074?casa_token=MkMbkdyr_cMAAAAA:LLu44kUbbsP5e-iW-kDdI7iSEo3WkLgH5IvKqb2txZA504q74J4OAhTuXIx8m90oDMSvuiq4Mg">rewarding personal growth</a>.</p> <h2>A disconnect between self and place</h2> <p>Taking yet more selfies could cut people off from their surroundings. In doing so, they could be <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016073831730097X?casa_token=tOaqrhfVQ-wAAAAA:uxb7djQMWjifvjjgPMZzbq2IQqlgoaGHzWoJkkGbQYQqkbZoeuOqLD91zqwBuWs1SfY7dcK4">less present in the travel experience itself</a>. Indeed, the <a href="https://english.elpais.com/usa/2021-10-29/rise-of-selfie-deaths-leads-experts-to-talk-about-a-public-health-problem.html">growing number</a> of <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/15/asia/french-man-selfie-death-intl-scli/index.html">selfie-related tourist deaths</a> might attest to a disconnect between self and place. A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6131996/#:%7E:text=selfie-related%20deaths.-,From%20October%202011%20to%20November%202017%2C%20there%20have%20been%20259,respectively%2C%20in%202016%20and%202017">2018 report</a> estimated 259 deaths to have occurred while taking selfies between 2011-2017.</p> <p>Other research suggests that individuals who are motivated by the desire to present a particular online image may be <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211973620301458?casa_token=-HkTUB7WC7cAAAAA:455BE0L2jP-CL1nD18__Ey3fj5GsLmYfKL_EB_P7IWa7lDddpJYIW3UIo5fUjg68e7Nvm7PUlTA#s0050">more likely to take risks</a> with their travel selfies, with potentially fatal consequences.</p> <p>Tourists have always been somewhat self-obsessed. The 18th-century <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0160738385900027">Grand Tour</a>, a leisurely trip around Europe, allowed the wealthy to <a href="https://www.historyhit.com/what-was-the-grand-tour/">indulge themselves</a> in <a href="https://www.salon.com/2002/05/31/sultry/">ways</a> that might not have been socially acceptable back home. And at the beginning of the 21st century, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160738301000305?casa_token=C5eb2NJQvGsAAAAA:YrdY-xjJwBrUE9RjwyOJ3kRBS4-o7e5Jni5sluTCuZOrgnCULybO8EgJtQqsuSL7B5nZJwiH3Q#BIB37">academics worried about</a> self-involved backpacker communities in southeast Asia having little interest in mixing with local people.</p> <p>What is different about smartphones and social media is that these allow some tourists to present such self-indulgent, and sometimes insensitive, tourism traits immediately. Wifi and mobile data mean that these tourists can travel with one eye on finding the perfect selfie backdrop – filtering and sharing their travel as it happens, responding to likes and comments.</p> <p>For better or worse, living this influencer fantasy may have become an integral part of tourism for some time.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/214681/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brendan-canavan-228682"><em>Brendan Canavan</em></a><em>, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-nottingham-1192">University of Nottingham</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/selfies-and-social-media-how-tourists-indulge-their-influencer-fantasies-214681">original article</a>.</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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The problem with shaming people for Auschwitz selfies

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/craig-wight-1514086">Craig Wight</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edinburgh-napier-university-696">Edinburgh Napier University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/phiona-stanley-1514087">Phiona Stanley</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edinburgh-napier-university-696">Edinburgh Napier University</a></em></p> <p>Selfies have become the modern day equivalent of postcards, a way to share our travel experiences with family and friends on social media. It’s one thing to strike a goofy pose and snap a photo for Instagram on a beach or town square, but what if you are visiting a Holocaust memorial site?</p> <p>Taking fun, playful, even silly selfies at <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9566811/">dark tourism</a> sites such as <a href="https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/45182/1/chernobyl-grenfell-tower-unpacking-the-rise-of-the-dark-tourism-tragedy-selfie">Chernobyl</a> Japan’s <a href="https://www.selondoner.co.uk/life/12122023-dark-tourism-in-london">“suicide forests”</a> or concentration camps has become a regular occurrence. It is widely regarded as controversial and distasteful.</p> <p>In 2017, Israeli-German artist Shahak Shapira launched a project aimed at shaming visitors taking selfies at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Germany. The project was <a href="https://yolocaust.de/">called Yolocaust</a> – a portmanteau of internet slang Yolo (you only live once) and Holocaust. It juxtaposed historical photos of Nazi murder victims with visitors’ photos of themselves, juggling and jumping, posing and playing at the Berlin memorial.</p> <p>Ever since, online vigilantes have been empowered to shame Holocaust-site selfie takers on social media. Many have used “yolocaust” in comments as shorthand for censure, judgement, and moral panic.</p> <p>We <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02508281.2022.2153994">analysed hundreds</a> of these posts, captions and comments to see how the selfie-takers are perceived and punished by others online. We examined posts with location tags at the Auschwitz Memorial Museum in Poland and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin.</p> <p>Based on our analysis, we think it may be better that young people engage with Holocaust sites in their own way, rather than not engaging at all. We also suggest that some commenters may be just as guilty as the selfie-takers, using their comments to show themselves in a positive light. Paradoxically, this is precisely what they are shaming the selfie-takers for doing: centering themselves, using the Holocaust as a prop.</p> <p>Vigilantism and public shaming has been around for centuries – think angry villagers with pitchforks raised. Vigilantes take it upon themselves to prevent, investigate and punish perceived wrongdoings, usually without legal authority.</p> <p>Online vigilantes (often called “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azv118">digilantes</a>”) punish others for perceived transgressions online. They act when they feel that someone has committed a crime or social wrongdoing on the internet as a form of <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/05/19/americans-and-cancel-culture-where-some-see-calls-for-accountability-others-see-censorship-punishment/">cancel culture</a>. There is, of course, a fine line between constructively questioning someone’s choices and publicly shaming them.</p> <h2>Who gets shamed?</h2> <p>We found that it wasn’t just any photo (we also looked at non-selfie tourist photos) that attracted online shaming. Some people were more likely to receive negative comments than others, depending on age, gender, cultural identity, photo pose, facial expression and the captions accompanying the photos.</p> <p>Younger, more conventionally attractive people – especially women, and especially people posting in English or German – attracted many negative comments. In contrast, older and less conventionally “sexy” selfie-takers, men, and those posting in, for example, Italian or Russian tended to be ignored.</p> <p>Some of these patterns appear related to how young women are often sexualised and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14680777.2018.1447345">demeaned online</a>, especially when it comes to the selfies of women holding their bodies in “model-like” poses. To some commenters, it appears more acceptable to shame those who society already deems unserious and flippant.</p> <p>Location was also important. While the Berlin Memorial saw plenty of tourist behaviour deemed “disrespectful” by commenters, it was rare to encounter selfie-taking at Auschwitz. This may because Auschwitz is a paid visitor attraction offering structured tours.</p> <p>In contrast, the Berlin memorial is an art installation, always open and part of the streetscape. Its purpose and meaning may not be immediately apparent. This leaves room for the possibility that some Holocaust-site selfie-taking is an innocent, accidental part of tourism in Berlin.</p> <p>Another predictor of negative comments was the captions on the photos we examined. If the caption was flippant or suggested a lack of serious engagement with Holocaust history and memory, the photo attracted more critical comments. Those who made some attempt to justify or even intellectualise their selfie-taking were often excused censure.</p> <p>In one example, a young woman is pictured jumping between the concrete slabs of the Berlin memorial. But her picture is accompanied by a careful caption that explicitly questions whether her behaviour is ethical.</p> <p>She writes, “One part of you comes out, simply wanting to explore the structure for what it is physically. Another part of you says that you cannot take part in anything that brings you joy here”. As the caption appears to neutralise the fun selfie, her post escapes critical comments.</p> <h2>Think before you shame</h2> <p>Although the Auschwitz Memorial Museum <a href="https://twitter.com/AuschwitzMuseum/status/1108337507660451841?lang=en">tells visitors not to take selfies</a>, and while playful selfie-taking seems disrespectful, we don’t think it should be banned, as some online commenters have called for.</p> <p>We argue that it is more important to keep alive – however clumsily and imperfectly – the memory of the more than six million Jews and <a href="https://holocausteducation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/1.-Non-JewishVictimsOfNaziPersecutionMurder-Digital.pdf">millions of others</a> who were killed by the Nazis. Perhaps this is best done through people living their ordinary, complex, messy and often joyous lives, precisely as the Nazis’ victims could not.</p> <p>We also think it is important to question the motives of digilantes themselves. Some seem to be using their comments to display their own moral superiority, rather than trying to educate or influence the behaviour of the selfie-takers.</p> <p>Before you join the ranks of the digilantes and comment on something you think is disrespectful, think about why you’re doing it – these images, their captions and the comments show that there is often more nuance to “ethical” behaviour than can be captured in a photo.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224304/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/craig-wight-1514086">Craig Wight</a>, Associated Professor in Tourism, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edinburgh-napier-university-696">Edinburgh Napier University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/phiona-stanley-1514087">Phiona Stanley</a>, Associate Professor of Intercultural Communications (Tourism and Languages), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edinburgh-napier-university-696">Edinburgh Napier University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-problem-with-shaming-people-for-auschwitz-selfies-224304">original article</a>.</em></p>

International Travel

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Selfie-taking tourists launched from Venice gondola after refusing to sit down

<p>A group of rowdy tourists have ended up in the waters of a Venice canal after causing a ruckus onboard the boat. </p> <p>Six passengers were travelling on a canal in the Italian hotspot when the boat was heading towards a low bridge that they needed to pass under. </p> <p>The gondolier explained to the tourists that they needed to sit down and be still as the boat passed under the bridge, explaining that a change in weight would cause an issue. </p> <p>Despite the gondolier's warning, the tourists continued to stand up and move around the narrow vessel to take selfies of their journey. </p> <p>Predictably, ignoring the requests of the gondolier caused the vessel to capsize, sending the tourists into the freezing water as the gondolier jumped to safety. </p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSkyNewsAustralia%2Fvideos%2F854034223389998%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>No one was injured in the mishap, as the tourists swam to safety at the bank of the canal, before seeking refuge at La Fenice theatre, according to Venice police.</p> <p>According to a spokesman for the city’s gondola association, the gondola was not damaged, although the upholstered furniture in the vessel was ruined by the water. </p> <p>The spokesperson went on to confirm that the gondolier had instructed the tourists not to move around or stand up to take selfies during the manoeuvre, but due to a language barrier, the tourists did not comply.</p> <p><span style="font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;">A video of the incident was posted to an Instagram page called Venezia Non è Disneyland (Venice Is Not Disneyland), an account run by young locals to chronicle tourism in the city, with the video being flooded with comments about the misbehaved tourists. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;">Many Italian locals were quick to point out how rowdy the tourists must've been to cause the incident, with many pointing out they "didn't know it was possible to capsize a gondola". </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;">Image credits: Facebook</span></em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Selfish selfies: Influencers fined for posing with priceless artworks

<p dir="ltr">Tourists visiting Queensland’s Carnarvon National Park have come under fire, after the wannabe influencers put an historic Indigenous site at risk with their disrespectful holiday selfies. </p> <p dir="ltr">The park’s rock art sites are, according to senior ranger Luke Male, of international importance, and are marked as restricted access areas to prevent tourists from interfering with the “fragile” rock art. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, “some visitors to Carnarvon National Park think the rules don’t apply to them and they’re entering restricted access areas to pose for photos.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In some instances, they are posing in front of Indigenous rock art that is thousands of years old, or they’re actually touching it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service makes no apology for taking compliance action against people who break the rules because they believe they are influencers.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Over the course of 12 months, six different people have been slapped with fines for entering the restricted areas to interact with the rock face - whether to take selfies or to go so far as to touch it - and 18 more fines have been issued for other offences, with camping in the protected area also landing them in trouble with park officials.</p> <p dir="ltr">Touching the art is considered disrespectful, but isn’t the only reason visitors are asked to keep their distance, as touch can also wear down the work. The likes of sunscreen, perspiration, and hand sanitiser can cause further damage, while dust stirred from people walking through the space can adhere to the rock face. </p> <p dir="ltr">As Male explained of the situation, “the ochre stencil art of the region is unique, diverse, highly complex and spectacular, and the rock art is embedded within sandstone that is incredibly fragile.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is a great honour and privilege for us to be able to see these rock art sites, and touching them can damage cultural artefacts that are thousands of years old.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He also shared that the park rangers regularly received “information, including photos from members of the public about people who have broken the rules.</p> <p dir="ltr">“People have to understand that the Traditional Owners remain connected to this place and the rock art within it, and they regard the entire Carnarvon National Park as a cultural site.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Carnarvon National Park Traditional Owners Management Group Committee’s Bidjara representative Leah Wyman had more to add on the importance of protecting the artworks, sharing that “our rock art bears thousand-year-old images, and they provide valuable information about the lives and cultures of our people in the past.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They are also important spiritual and ceremonial sites to us, and it is imperative that everyone stays on the walkways to ensure that Carnarvon National Park can be visited by future generations to come.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another member of the committee and Bidjara woman Kristine Sloman noted that the park itself was a cemetery, and that the sites were locations where family members had been laid to rest, so “getting off the boardwalks and walking around is of the utmost disrespect, and is comparable to attending someone’s funeral and walking on their coffin.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Many people around the world have chosen to close their sacred sites due to destructive impacts, and it would be a great shame to resort to this type of action.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Let’s appreciate, learn, nurture, and respect each other’s cultures and ensure no more of our sacred places are damaged or closed to the public.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Department of Environment and Science</em></p>

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"Willfully clueless": Tourists slammed for disrespectful Auschwitz selfies

<p>In a move that has been slammed as disgusting and disrespectful, a tourist has used her time visiting Auschwitz as an opportunity to pad out her social media feeds. </p> <p>In a picture shared by GB News producer Maria Murphy, a man and a woman can be seen on the railway tracks outside of the main Auschwitz structure. He is crouched with a camera angled towards her, while she is posing on the tracks, hand in her hair with her face turned to the sky. </p> <p>“Today I had one of the most harrowing experiences of my life,” Maria wrote on Twitter alongside the image. “Regrettably it didn’t seem [like] everyone there found it quite so poignant.”</p> <p>She went on to explain that the tour had been going for a couple of hours by that point, so the tourists had no excuse for their ignorance and disrespect - especially as they were all “asked repeatedly to be mindful and respectful.” </p> <p>And as Maria pointed out, “you would think this sort of thing wouldn’t need to be specified as a no-go for that criteria.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Today I had one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. Regrettably it didn’t seem everyone there found it quite so poignant. <a href="https://t.co/3OdWavqC4P">pic.twitter.com/3OdWavqC4P</a></p> <p>— Maria 🇬🇧 (@MariaRMGBNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/MariaRMGBNews/status/1647325872720949249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Unfortunately, it seems that Maria was far from the first to witness such an act at the historic site, with thousands of irate commenters flocking to her post to share their experiences with disrespectful souls, and even more stopping by to condemn the thoughtless act. </p> <p>“We saw the same when we were there just a few months ago. Total disregard,” wrote one.</p> <p>“I visited in 2005 and every single person in my tour group had cried over the course of the tour,” one shared. </p> <p>“Absolutely disgusting,” another declared. “When I went, people were taking selfies. So disrespectful.” </p> <p>“Some people are really just willfully clueless and beyond ignorant,” came one hard truth.</p> <p>And when one tried to suggest that everyone shouldn’t be so quick to judge, that they weren’t sure “we should police people’s facial expressions in reaction to almost incomprehensible experiences”, the rest were quick to disagree.</p> <p>“This woman is posing on a railroad track that brought hundreds of thousands to their murders,” someone responded, to over 23,000 likes. “There is no nuance here.”</p> <p>Another simply wanted to point out that “@AuschwitzMuseum asks people not to do this. It's so horrifying that it continues to happen.”</p> <p>But the Auschwitz Museum’s official Twitter account perhaps put it best when they said, “Pictures can hold immense emotional &amp; documentation value for visitors. Images help us remember. </p> <p>“When coming to @AuschwitzMuseum visitors should bear in mind that they enter the authentic site of the former camp where over 1 million people were murdered. </p> <p>“Respect their memory.”</p> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

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Don’t say cheese! Travel destinations where photos are illegal

<p dir="ltr">While many happy travellers love to immortalise their holiday with a collection of photos, there are some places that don’t allow for pics to be taken. </p> <p dir="ltr">In several destinations across the globe, tourists are actually banned from taking selfies and can even get fined for breaking the rules.</p> <p dir="ltr">So before you pull out your camera and strike a pose, you might want to check if what you’re snapping a photo of is legal. </p> <p dir="ltr">Here are just a few places where taking photos isn’t allowed. </p> <p><strong>The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The use of professional cameras and phones is strictly prohibited in the Sistine Chapel so don't even think about it. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to <a href="https://www.vaticancitytours.it/blog/are-cameras-allowed-in-the-vatican-city/#:~:text=Sistine%20Chapel&amp;text=The%20real%20reason%20for%20the,companies%20to%20fund%20the%20project.">VaticanCityTours,</a> the reason you can't take pictures dates back to 1980 when the chapel was restored due to damage caused by flash photography. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Mecca Pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">In Saudi Arabia, it is against the law to take photos of worshippers during Hajj, otherwise known as their pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. </p> <p>This is due to it being disrespectful to snap people while they are on their religious journey. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>The Blue Mosque, Turkey</strong></p> <p>Taking a photo of the outside of the iconic Blue Mosque is totally okay, but snapping any photos of the interior is a big no. </p> <p>Visitors also must follow strict dress codes as well as other rules and regulations.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Anne Frank's House, Amsterdam</strong></p> <p>Taking photos or selfies in the House of Anne Frank is not allowed inside the museum due to its serious nature.</p> <p>There is a very sombre mood within the historical house, making it a time for reflection, not for flash photography. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Palace of Versailles, France</strong></p> <p>Photos of both the Palace and the surrounding gardens are strictly prohibited for all travellers. </p> <p>This is due to concerns about the preservation of artwork and the safety of visitors.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Garoupe Beach, France</strong></p> <p>The famous Garoupe beach in southern France banned holidaymakers from taking selfies during the busy season in the middle of summer.</p> <p dir="ltr">The law was first introduced to stop people from bragging about their holiday and just enjoy the stay rather than show off on social media.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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“Fun until it wasn’t”: Grant Denyer takes smiling selfie moments before disaster

<p>Former <em>Sunrise</em> presenter Grant Denyer has taken to Instagram to report that he was involved in a disastrous biking accident.</p> <p>Grant, who has been training ahead of the 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour race this weekend, was with friend and training partner Mick when they ran into trouble. </p> <p>Despite dubbing the incident a “huge stack”, it seems no real injury was sustained, with Denyer’s sharing a light hearted take with his 408k followers. </p> <p>“No joke, 2 mins after this photo we had a huge stack doing wheelies and clipping handlebars,” he captioned the image. The photo in question features Grant and Mick on their bikes, cycling along a country road, with big smiles on each of their faces.</p> <p>“D*ckheads,” Grant said of the pair, and added that they were “putting in the big yards for the @bathurst12hr this weekend. Doing a lot of riding. New to it. As our crash proves … Thx Mick from @bathurstaquapark for being a great training partner. Most of the time”.</p> <p>Grant’s post was met with great amusement from his followers, with most making fun of the situation along with him. It didn’t seem to phase Grant, who met their comments with lighthearted jokes of his own. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CoEdKdkrFGG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CoEdKdkrFGG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Grant Denyer (@grantdenyer)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Two hands for beginners, legend,” wrote one. </p> <p>“Yeah um…. Was fun until it wasn’t!” Grant responded, going on to mention that they  “took each out and ended up in the scrub. Naturally we did it on the last kilometre of the run. It’s always the ‘last run’ isn’t it?”</p> <p>“Yep, you certainly were putting lots of effort into the big hill as I was passing,” said one supporter, suggesting they had spotted Grant out on the road. </p> <p>Grant, who mentioned that he was new to riding in his original caption, responded to confirm that “it does not come natural I can assure you!! These little legs work HARD”. </p> <p>Mick, Grant’s riding partner, came up in a few of the comments, and Grant made sure to praise his skill while still poking some fun at the whole situation. </p> <p>“He’s a wildcat that’s for sure! A beast on the bike.” He said of his training partner, “bloody talented at everything. Except keeping to himself”. </p> <p>Grant, who has quite the history with motorsports under his belt, will still be participating in the Bathurst 12 hour, an international endurance race that will span Friday through to Sunday.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

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Plane crash survivors take “selfie of the year”

<p dir="ltr">Survivors of a crash between an airplane and a firetruck have caused outrage after taking a selfie.</p> <p dir="ltr">Two passengers, still covered in firefighting foam, smiled for the camera and shared the snap online with the caption: “When life gives you a second chance #latam”.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-702b43e8-7fff-a65b-efe6-63b406b369b0"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">While the plane’s crew and passengers all survived, what they didn’t know was that two of the firefighters in the truck that collided with the plane at Peru’s Jorge Chavez International Airport had died.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="es">Cuando la vida te da una segunda oportunidad <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/latam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#latam</a> <a href="https://t.co/Vd98Zu98Uo">pic.twitter.com/Vd98Zu98Uo</a></p> <p>— Enrique Varsi-Rospigliosi (@enriquevarsi) <a href="https://twitter.com/enriquevarsi/status/1593710356916051970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">In light of this, the passengers sparked outrage online for smiling in the wake of the tragedy.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve seen it all now. Crash selfie. End of the internet,” one person tweeted.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Nothing to be proud of, firefighters died,” another wrote in a popular aviation group on Facebook.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Two firefighters die but sure, take a selfie and laugh,” a third commented.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a00f0788-7fff-4c81-44ae-b2fc0da02191"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Others shared memes criticising the photo, with one Twitter user sharing a photo of a woman posing in front of a wildfire and the caption, “Same vibes!”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="es">Cuando te convertis en un meme de 9gag <a href="https://t.co/br7L8fdXIG">pic.twitter.com/br7L8fdXIG</a></p> <p>— 𝕸𝖆𝖚𝖗𝖔 𝕳. 𝕷. (@mxmauro) <a href="https://twitter.com/mxmauro/status/1593936036819865600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">SAME VIBES! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LATAM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LATAM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/latamperu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#latamperu</a> <a href="https://t.co/lssuNyI3uv">https://t.co/lssuNyI3uv</a> <a href="https://t.co/8beWSTPWJn">pic.twitter.com/8beWSTPWJn</a></p> <p>— Alderson (@0Dweller) <a href="https://twitter.com/0Dweller/status/1593739808102227968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">But, some came to the defence of the passengers, noting that they would also be happy if they had walked away from a crash unscathed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I mean it is selfie of the year … they walked away from that,” one wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I get it, they are happy they are alive,” another said. “People are just taking it the wrong way and getting offended for anything these days.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Think about it, you realised you’ve just survived an aeroplane crash, then suddenly it catches fire, and on top of it you are able to walk away from it unscratched? I’d be the happiest and most thankful person alive!”</p> <p dir="ltr">A third noted that at the time very few people would have known there had been fatalities resulting from the crash, particularly if they were on the plane.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In the moment they took the picture, only a few people knew that two firefighters had died. They thought it was a problem with the aeroplane,” they explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Media took, at least, an hour and a half to report what really happened. Even firefighters from Lima didn’t know for the first hour. They just felt thankful for being alive.”</p> <p dir="ltr">It also seems that the critics are in the minority, with the original post receiving more than 200,000 likes since it was posted on November 19, a day after the crash.</p> <p dir="ltr">None of the 102 passengers or crew on-board the LATAM Airbus 280 at the time lost their lives in the incident, the cause of which is currently being investigated according to Jorge Chavez International Airport.</p> <p dir="ltr">Footage taken by witnesses showed the plane taking off from the runway at full speed before colliding with the truck, also travelling at speed.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7ce1be6b-7fff-6c54-db6b-98478293a3c0"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">With damaged landing gear, the plane continued moving forward with its right side dragging along the runway and sending up a trail of sparks.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="es">Todos los videos que me han llegado del accidente en el aeropuerto Jorge Chavez.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Latam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Latam</a> <a href="https://t.co/uS2d82ls7S">pic.twitter.com/uS2d82ls7S</a></p> <p>— 2023 VUELVO (@himselfsv) <a href="https://twitter.com/himselfsv/status/1593722983943528448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">When it stopped, the rear of the plane was badly burned and a cloud of smoke escaped the aircraft.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to security official Aurelio Orellana, a rescuer in the truck was also injured during the incident and is “in critical condition due to head trauma”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Manuel van Oordt, the general manager of LATAM Peru, said he was surprised the firefighters were on the runway to begin with, given that the plane’s pilot hadn’t reported any anomalies.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No emergency was reported in the flight, it was a flight that was in optimal conditions to take off, he had permission to take off, and he found a truck on the runway and we do not know what this truck was doing there,” he said at a press conference.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-19377d4c-7fff-891d-9c63-a8e5c8ccdc6c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

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14 mind-blowing facts about selfies

<p><strong>They’re a window into your personality</strong></p> <p>It turns out that your favourite selfie pose can say a lot about your personality. In a study published in <em>Computers in Human Behaviour</em>, researchers connected self-portrait styles to specific character traits. For example, conscientious people tend to hide the location of their selfies, showing that they’re concerned with maintaining privacy. Those who appear positive and look directly into the camera tend to be more agreeable. Incidentally, those who have a go-to “duck face” pose are more likely to be emotionally unstable.</p> <p><strong>They can be a red flag</strong></p> <p>Psychologists believe that taking selfies can become a dangerous addiction. More often than not, those addicted to taking and posting selfies are suffering from body dysmorphic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, or depression, all of which can significantly interfere with your daily functioning. British psychologist Dr David Veal, says selfie-addiction is a “mental health issue with an extremely high suicide rate.” Seek help if you feel yourself needing to snap selfies compulsively.</p> <p><strong>They date back to the 16th century</strong></p> <p>You might think selfies started with smartphones, but they have a much longer history. The first-ever selfie was painted in 1524 using oil on wood. In “Self-portrait in a Convex Mirror,” 21-year-old artist Parmigianino depicted his own reflection. This young artist had no idea he was 500 years ahead of a booming trend!</p> <p><strong>They weren’t always easy to take</strong></p> <p>Parmigianino’s oil painting self-portrait aside, the first photographic selfie as we know it today was taken by Robert Cornelius in 1839. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy as tapping his thumb on an iPhone’s front-facing lens. Cornelius had to set up the camera on a stand, remove the lens cap, run into the frame, sit for five minutes, then sprint back and replace the cap. In this exhausting process, he took what is believed to be the first photographic self-portrait.</p> <p><strong>Some cities take more selfies than others</strong></p> <p>Though selfies are a global phenomenon, it turns out that some cities produce more than others. Time investigated the geography of selfie-snapping by building a database of more than 400,000 digital self-portraits with the caption, “#selfie.” They then mapped out the photos’ geographic coordinates and managed to rank 459 cities based on the number of selfies they generated. The study concluded that Makati City in the Philippines is the ‘Selfie Capital of the World,’ followed closely by Manhattan and Miami in the US.</p> <p><strong>They’re not only taken here on Earth</strong></p> <p>Everyone loves an exotic selfie, including NASA’s astronauts. Believe it or not, multiple selfies have been taken in outer space. Buzz Aldrin proudly took the first space selfie during the Gemini 12 mission in 1966. That’s one small step for man, one giant step for self-portraits.</p> <p><strong>Women take more than men</strong></p> <p>In every city analysed, women take more cities than men – but the differences greatly vary by area. In Bangkok, women take 55.2 per cent of all selfies, which isn’t that much more than men. In New York, however, women take 61.6 per cent of selfie snaps, which is considerable. Moscow, by contrast, has the greatest disparity, with women taking a whopping 82 per cent  of all selfies! It seems Russian men simply aren’t that interested in documenting their own reflection.</p> <p><strong>They can make great book material</strong></p> <p>If you’ve been suffering with writer’s block, perhaps you should follow Kim Kardashian’s example and just fill your novel with selfies. In May of 2015, Kardashian published a book called <em>Selfish</em>, which is 448 pages long and comprised entirely of her favourite selfies. Sound absurd? Apparently not. <em>Selfish </em>quickly became a<em> New York Times</em> bestseller.</p> <p><strong>It’s a young person’s sport</strong></p> <p>As one might expect, selfies are especially favoured by millennials. The average age of selfie-takers is 23.6. However, this average may soon take a dip, as preteens are gaining momentum, snapping more digital self-portraits every year.</p> <p><strong>They’re all about the hashtag</strong></p> <p>As selfies have grown in popularity over the last few years, the corresponding hashtag has remained their official label and link. According to Instagram, the first ever photo captioned with “#selfie” was uploaded by a Jennifer Lee on January 16, 2011. Since then, Instagram has had over 227 million self-portraits posted with the same hashtag – and that number grows by the minute.</p> <p><strong>It’s been the word of the year</strong></p> <p>In 2013, “selfie” was named <em>The Oxford English Dictionary</em>’s Word of the Year. Most years, there will be some disagreement or debate over which word should receive the honour, but in 2013, ‘selfie’ was chosen almost unanimously and expected from the start. And how could they not choose it? Selfie’s usage in the English language had increased by 17,000 per cent that year alone.</p> <p><strong>They aren’t always welcome</strong></p> <p>There has been a growing ban on selfie-taking, specifically when using selfie-sticks as tools. Disneyland’s Paris, Hong Kong, and American theme parks have forbidden the use of selfie sticks on their premises. The Palace Museum in Beijing and the Sistine Chapel in Italy have done the same. Even festivals like Lollapalooza in Chicago and Coachella in California have called for a halt. It looks like visitors will have to document their fun the old fashioned way: by extending their arms.</p> <p><strong>They aren’t always what they seem</strong></p> <p>The purpose of a self-portrait is to reflect your true self in a moment worth capturing. Sadly, it seems online selfies, more often than not, don’t actually portray reality. According to a recent survey, 68 per cent of selfie-takers admitted to editing their photos before sharing online. This number is up from 48 per cent of people who admitted to doctoring their selfies in 2014, suggesting that the pressure to appear perfect has only increased.</p> <p><strong>They’re not the majority</strong></p> <p>Although selfies may seem to be every other picture you encounter online, they fortunately aren’t the majority of all photos taken. In fact, people take selfies far less than we assume. Only 4 per cent of all images are actually selfies (depending on the city). The other 96 per cent of photos feature monuments, food, pets, shoes, friends, family, and more.</p> <p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-5af27900-7fff-a180-8fa3-4da4a10c4d2c">Written by Aubrey Almanza. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/14-mind-blowing-facts-about-selfies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a></span></em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Technology

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Australia to put “selfie sticks” in space

<p>A “selfie stick” for a satellite? It sounds strange. And simple. But it’s one of those typically tricky – and necessary – challenges facing Australia’s emerging space industry.</p> <p>The University of South Australia was one of three universities and 23 businesses of the iLAUNCH hub to share $180 million in funding this week to secure a future sovereign space industry.</p> <p>They all face the same challenge: to build lightweight but resilient satellite components locally.</p> <p>For UniSA, manufacturing specialists Amaero and SMR Australia, and the Defence Science Technology Group in Adelaide, the focus is on 3D printing.</p> <p>“The selfie stick is a concept to give the public an appreciation of what we’re trying to do,” says Industry Associate Research Professor Colin Hall.</p> <p>And that’s being able to fabricate complex optical components for satellite imaging systems.</p> <p>So why do satellites need “selfie sticks”?</p> <p>“We need to know what’s happening to them,” he says. “We want to see everything. Did it deploy right? Did an electrical short cause a malfunction? Or was it some sort of external influence – like a solar flare?”</p> <p>It’s part of a project to develop a “black box” flight data recording system for satellites.</p> <p>“It’s very challenging to get anything to operate properly in space, and that’s after getting it qualified and certified,” he says.</p> <p>It must be of high quality. It must be reliable. It must be lightweight. It must be durable.</p> <p>It also must burn up in re-entry and not punch any unexpected holes in the ground.</p> <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p191600-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.61 resetting" action="/technology/robotics/selfie-sticks-space/#wpcf7-f6-p191600-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="resetting"> <p style="display: none !important;"><span class="wpcf7-form-control-wrap referer-page"><input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/" data-value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/" aria-invalid="false" /></span></p> <p><!-- Chimpmail extension by Renzo Johnson --></form> </div> </div> <p>That makes something as traditional as an optic lens a challenge.</p> <p>“You can take the traditional manufacturing route with a block of aluminium alloy or titanium, machine it into shape and polish it to the right tolerances,” says Dr Hall. “But we came from a different position not normally associated with high-end optics – 3D printed plastic”.</p> <p>UniSA’s done something similar before. In 2011, it came up with the first plastic mirrors for the automotive industry. </p> <p>“We had to pass all the certifications such as being resistant to harsh chemicals, abrasion, pressure and heat,” Dr Halls says. “It was a matter of having a lightweight mirror and finding new places to put it”.</p> <p>A 3D printer builds a space-grade plastic formulation into the necessary interlocking shapes. Then a vacuum deposition technique applies a 50-nanometer thick layer of reflective metal. This is then given a protective clear ceramic coating.</p> <p>“You have to get the chemistry right, the temperature right and the pressure right,” he says. </p> <p>The end result is a high-quality optic finish on a set of perfectly fitting lenses. While the manufacturing process is complex, the end product is as simplified as possible.</p> <p>“It’s more easy to create complex shapes,” says Dr Hall. “That means you can simplify the optics to the point where you may only need one camera lens capturing an image of the whole satellite”.</p> <p>Another advantage of 3D printed optics is their weight and density. They’re about half that of comparable glass and one third that of titanium-based components.</p> <p>Challenges remain.</p> <p>Among them is establishing the thermal expansion properties of any 3D printed plastic framework. One side can be facing the extreme heat of the sun. The other is in the cold black shadow of space.</p> <p>At stake is a place in the burgeoning low-Earth observation satellite industry.</p> <p>“There’s much more demand now for high-end optical components,” Dr Hall says. His team is also working with the CSIRO to produce selective filters for the sensors on its upcoming Aquawatch water quality observation satellite.</p> <p><!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --></p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=191600&amp;title=Australia+to+put+%E2%80%9Cselfie+sticks%E2%80%9D+in+space" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /></p> <p><!-- End of tracking content syndication --></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/robotics/selfie-sticks-space/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/jamie-seidel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jamie Seidel</a>. Jamie Seidel is a freelance journalist based in Adelaide.</em></p> <p><em>Image: University of South Australia</em></p> </div>

Technology

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"Selfie for the archives": Kate and William's hilarious Cool Runnings moment

<p>The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are continuing their tour in the Caribbean for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.</p> <p>After landing in Kingston on Tuesday, hundreds of locals turned out to meet the couple, despite them having arrived amid anti-monarchy protests on the island, as the government begins paperwork to remove the Queen as head of state.</p> <p>William and Kate even put their usual "no selfie" rule aside to pose for a pic with members of the Jamaica Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, much to their delight.</p> <p>Enjoying their amazing Cool Runnings moment, Kate and William royals climbed into one of the history-making bobsleighs.</p> <p>"I had the honour of being introduced to the Duke and Duchess. It's great they came," Chris Stokes one of the men who competed at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics made famous in the movie, told reporters.</p> <p>After the federation shared the image on its social media, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's account re-shared the image on an Instagram Story, captioning the image: "Selfie for the archives".</p> <p>Both William and Kate were seen laughing as the Duchess appeared to make an impromptu decision to get into the back of the capsule, despite her outfit.</p> <p>The Duke spoke with members of the Winter Olympics team, who finished 28th in the recent Beijing Games, and was surprised to hear the bobsleighs can reach speeds of 150km/h.</p> <p>The Duke and Duchess also met with Jamaican-born footballers, two of whom now play in the English Premier League - Manchester City's Raheem Sterling and Aston Villa's Leon Bailey.</p> <p>When Prince William, who is president of the Football Association, met Sterling and Bailey, he reportedly said to his wife: "Two heroes of mine. These two are the fastest in the team".</p> <p><em>Images: </em><em>Instagram/JBSFed and </em><em style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Getty</em></p>

International Travel

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"Poise under pressure": Woman snaps selfie as car sinks in ice

<p><em>Image: Twitter </em></p> <p>A woman In Canada has been criticised for appearing to take a selfie from the roof of her submerged car as it sunk in a frozen lake.</p> <p>The woman’s car became submerged after breaking through ice on the Rideau River in Ottawa on Sunday afternoon, requiring her to be rescued. Ottawa Police tweeted that local residents had come to her aid using “a kayak and quick thinking”.</p> <p>Video obtained by 580 CFRA shows people rushing towards the woman with a kayak as she stands on top of her yellow car.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">NEW: Neighbours use kayaks to rescue driver after car crashes through ice in Manotick <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottnews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ottnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/dhANorovWK">https://t.co/dhANorovWK</a></p> — CTV Ottawa (@ctvottawa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ctvottawa/status/1482873513782525952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <p>Resident Zachary King told CTV News Ottawa he and his neighbour Rob Crober were the ones who rescued the woman. "It’s like everything worked out perfectly,” he told the station.</p> <p>“Got her on the kayak, pulled her in. And as soon as we pulled her in, the car went under. Fully."</p> <p>Video shot by resident Sacha Gera appears to show the woman driving on the ice at speed ahead of the rescue. It was reported that nobody was injured.</p> <p>Police said it served as an example that people should not drive across ice even when it looks safe.</p> <p>It seems the woman spent her time waiting to be rescued snapping a selfie while on the roof of her car. “She captured the moment with a selfie while people hurried and worried to help her,” Lynda Douglas tweeted, along with a photo.</p> <p>“Any time you are in a dangerous situation, you should not be taking selfies or doing anything distracting. You should be 100 per cent focused on being safe,” another man tweeted.</p> <p>However, others were far less critical. “She's waiting to be rescued. What the hell else is she supposed to do?” one man tweeted.</p> <p>“I appreciate her poise under pressure.”</p> <p>Regardless, the drive on the ice has proven costly for the woman, with her car being written off. Police have also charged her with an offence.</p>

Travel Trouble

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Couple may have accidentally photographed Gabby Petito’s missing fiancé in selfie

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An unsuspecting couple may have inadvertently photographed Brian Laundrie, fiancé of Gabby Petito and person of interest in her case, while holidaying in Florida days before she was reported missing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Marci and Kenny Newsom were staying at Fort De Soto Campground in Pinellas, Florida, on the weekend of September 6. Speaking to WBBH, Ms Newson said "Apparently, they were at the campground when we were there, and they were right next to us," referring to Laundrie and his parents. The campground is approximately 120km from the Laundrie family home in Northport, Florida. </span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 306.85131195335276px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844550/screen-shot-2021-10-01-at-115411-am.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4f7f379c2a32404293cf50cc642f963c" /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the photo the Newsoms took with friends, a figure can be seen walking in the background, and the Newsoms believe this figure is Brian Laundrie. While this can’t be confirmed, Ms Newsom told WBBH that the three campers who stayed next to them kept to themselves, adding, "They were there, and then they weren't."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Earlier this week, </span><a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/they-were-here-dog-the-bounty-hunter-confirms-new-laundrie-lead"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dog the Bounty Hunter said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> he was able to confirm Laundrie had stayed at a campsite with his parents that weekend. He told Fox News, “We had a very good lead come up today that he was down here in this park, not far away. We checked our lead out. It is confirmed. The parents were down here two times.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was September 1-3 and September 6-8. They registered to stay at this park. Allegedly, what we’re hearing, is ... three people came in on the 6th and two people left on the 8th. I think he’s been here, for sure. He was here, for sure. Not over in the swamp.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Documents seen by CNN show Laundrie’s mother checked out of the campground on September 11, three days before Gabby was reported missing. Laundrie’s parents said on September 17 they had last seen their son three days earlier.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The search for Brian Laundrie has been ongoing, with </span><a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/could-it-actually-be-him-brian-laundrie-potentially-spotted-on-the-run"><span style="font-weight: 400;">reports of sightings</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> being made from all over Florida. Laundrie is wanted in relation to a federal arrest warrant relating to his actions after Gabby’s death, when he allegedly used a debit card and PIN for accounts that did not belong to him for charges exceeding $1000 between August 30 and September 1.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: Instagram, Marci Newsom</span></em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise’s daughter shares rare selfie

<p>Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman’s daughter Isabella ‘Bella’ Cruise has posted a rare photo of herself with a new haircut.</p> <p>The 27-year-old, who is known to keep a low profile, shared a selfie of her short black hair with pops of green through it.</p> <p>She completed the look with peace sign earrings, a nose piercing and oversized sunglasses.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFVRw6kA-iS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFVRw6kA-iS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Bella Kidman Cruise (@bellakidmancruise)</a> on Sep 19, 2020 at 2:01pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Bella didn’t caption the photo, but chose to tag two jewellery labels instead.</p> <p>Her friends and followers responded to the photograph by commenting on how much the new hairdo suits her.</p> <p>"Love it, also, your skin looks soooo freaking good," another added.</p> <p>"You're so beautiful and talented," a third commented.</p> <p>In 1992, Cruise, 58, and Kidman, 53, adopted Bella during their 10-year marriage.</p> <p>In 1995, the couple also adopted a son, Conor Cruise, now 25.</p> <p>They then called it quits in 2001 and it is believed Bella and Connor are estranged from Kidman.</p> <p>In an interview with Who magazine, Kidman seemed to have confirmed that fact.</p> <p>"They are adults. They are able to make their own decisions. They have made choices to be Scientologists and as a mother, it's my job to love them," she said. "And I am an example of that tolerance and that's what I believe — that no matter what your child does, the child has love and the child has to know there is available love and I'm open here."</p> <p>Nicole went on to marry Keith Urban, whom she shares two children with.</p> <p>The same year, Cruise married Katie Holmes, who he shares 14-year-old Suri Cruise with. </p>

Beauty & Style

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Jacinda Ardern admits mistake after group selfie

<p><span>Jacinda Ardern has admitted she “made a mistake” after she took a selfie with fans, breaching social distancing measures.</span><br /><br /><span>The New Zealand Prime Minister went to Massey University at Palmerston North on Thursday while on the campaign trail.</span><br /><br /><span>Excited students followed her around campus and as she left, the PM was met by a group who wanted to take a photo with her.</span><br /><br /><span>The prime minister reportedly asked the crowd to step back at first, but eventually joined them for the selfie.</span><br /><br /><span>Ardern has admitted her mistake on Monday while announcing the easing of coronavirus restrictions.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837997/jacinda-ardern-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/bcb974e3cf7f40b796fef5218d838935" /></p> <p><em>Image: Twitter</em><br /><br /><span>"All the way through on the campaign trail and even before during alert level settings, I work really hard not to shake people's hands," she said.</span><br /><br /><span>"I sanitise. I wear my mask in Auckland, and I work hard to try to keep my social distance.</span><br /><br /><span>"In that particular photo I did make a mistake. I should have stepped further forward. I should have asked them to step apart from each other, and I acknowledge that."</span><br /><br /><span>New Zealand is set for an election on October 17, which presents a unique challenge for candidates and voters during the COVID pandemic.</span><br /><br /><span>Ardern spoke about the challenges on Monday.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Have I woken up in an alternate reality?<br /><br />Ardern: “I’ve acknowledged it was the wrong thing, I shouldn’t have taken a selfie...I’m sorry for it...I need to take responsibility for it...I should have not done it”<a href="https://twitter.com/TheAMShowNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheAMShowNZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jacindaardern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jacindaardern</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nzpol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nzpol</a> <a href="https://t.co/QL0hSZZmfu">pic.twitter.com/QL0hSZZmfu</a></p> — The Orwellian 🇳🇿 (@TheOrwellianNZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheOrwellianNZ/status/1308146584517894144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2020</a></blockquote> <p><br /><br /><span>She says the country's social distancing restrictions are decided based on health advice and not on campaign needs.</span><br /><br /><span>"None of our decision-making around these alert levels, actually are based on the politics or the campaign," she said.</span><br /><br /><span>Restrictions in New Zealand have now eased, however Auckland still faces tougher rules than the rest of the country.</span><br /><br /><span>"We are in a strong position to make our next move down our alert settings," Ardern said.</span><br /><br /><span>"Auckland needs more time."</span></p>

Body

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Reese Witherspoon could be her daughter’s twin in stunning ski selfie

<p>Reese Witherspoon’s 20-year-old daughter, Ava Phillippe is growing up to look exactly like her after her mother took to Instagram to share a sweet snap of the duo on a skiing trip.</p> <p>Looking more like sisters rather than mother-daughter, Witherspoon captioned the selfie “Weekend ski bunnies” as the photograph overlooked the mountains.</p> <p>Ava showed her appreciation in the comments, writing, “I love youuuu”.</p> <p>The pair are known to have a close relationship with the actress regularly sharing snaps of the two on her Instagram page.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8orIcvAzGT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8orIcvAzGT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Weekend ski bunnies 🎿</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reesewitherspoon/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Reese Witherspoon</a> (@reesewitherspoon) on Feb 16, 2020 at 9:06am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Ava, who is currently in her second year of college at the University of California, Berkeley, also shared a photo of her mum while she was visiting her on campus.</p> <p>Phillippe is also her mother’s biggest supporter. In December last year she posted a congratulatory caption on Instagram after Witherspoon was honoured with the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award at The<span> </span><em>Hollywood Reporter’s<span> </span></em>annual Women in Entertainment gala.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5HYpgFn6kt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5HYpgFn6kt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">quick visit from my cute mama ❤️</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/avaphillippe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Ava</a> (@avaphillippe) on Nov 20, 2019 at 9:15pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Major congratulations to my mama, who received an award today for her leadership in the industry that she cares so deeply about improving. I’m so grateful to have a mom this thoughtful, passionate, and courageous, and I’m glad other people can recognise how special she is!” she wrote.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B58gwMDJcKT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B58gwMDJcKT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Major congratulations to my mama, who received an award today for her leadership in the industry that she cares so deeply about improving. I’m so grateful to have a mom this thoughtful, passionate, and courageous, and I’m glad other people can recognize how special she is! 💐</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/avaphillippe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Ava</a> (@avaphillippe) on Dec 11, 2019 at 12:26pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Phillippe’s dad, actor Ryan Phillippe, told<span> </span><em>Entertainment Tonight</em><span> </span>in 2017 that he finds it strange to be constantly told how his kids, Ava and Deacon, look exactly like their parents.</p> <p>"I mean, it's weird, because isn't that obvious?" he joked. "Who else are they going to look like, you know? I always find that such a weird thing, like, [Ava] looks exactly like her mother, who else is she going to look like? It's an odd thing that people fixate on that."</p>

Beauty & Style

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Post or it didn’t happen: Live tourist snaps have turned solo adventures into social occasions

<p>In the years since <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32336808">selfie sticks</a> went global, it has become clear that the mobile phone has changed the way we travel. The ubiquity of social media means tourists can now produce content on the move for their networked audiences to view in close to real time.</p> <p>Where once we shared slideshows post trip and saved prints and postcards as keepsakes, we now share <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160738315000419">holiday images</a> and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369118X.2016.1220969">selfies</a> from the road, sea or air — expanding the “<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/026327692009003001">tourist gaze</a>” from the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160738315300335">traveller</a> to include remote audiences back home.</p> <p><strong>Instagram-worthy</strong></p> <p>Travelling has gone from a solitary quest to a “<a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9780203861301/chapters/10.4324/9780203861301-21">social occasion</a>”. As such, gazing is becoming inseparably linked with photography. Taking photos has become habitual, rendering the camera as a way of seeing and experiencing new places.</p> <p>Travellers take selfies that present both locations and people in aesthetically pleasing and positive <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9780203861301/chapters/10.4324/9780203861301-21">ways</a>.</p> <p>Indeed, the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/17/instagrammers-travel-sri-lanka-tourists-peachy-backsides-social-media-obsessed">“instagrammability”</a> of a destination is a key motivation for younger people to travel there - even if filters and <a href="https://twitter.com/polina_marinova/status/1146620000679022593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1146620000679022593&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftravel.nine.com.au%2Flatest%2Fbali-gates-of-heaven-attraction-fake-twitter-response%2F9014aa28-f31e-4ad7-912f-6749efc18b26">mirrors</a> have been used to create a less than realistic image.</p> <p>This transforms the relationship between travellers and their social networks in three important <a href="http://sk.sagepub.com/books/the-tourist-gaze-3-0-3e">ways</a>: between tourists and destination hosts; between fellow tourists; and lastly, between tourists and those that stay home.</p> <p>The urge to share travel imagery is not without risk. An Australian couple were <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-05/australians-released-from-iran/11576776">released</a> from detention in Iran in October, following their arrest for ostensibly flying a drone without a permit.</p> <p>Other tourists earned derision for scrambling to post selfies at <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/australian-holidays/northern-territory/influencers-reason-for-deciding-to-climb-uluru-before-the-ban/news-story/b53928ee54800a6070bc0670b1679356">Uluru</a> before it was closed to climbers.</p> <p>Meanwhile, there is a sad story behind the newly popular travelgram destination Rainbow Mountain in the Peruvian Andes. It has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/world/americas/peru-rainbow-mountain.html">reportedly</a> only recently emerged due to climate change melting its once snowy peaks.</p> <p><strong>Testing the effects</strong></p> <p>To understand the way social media photography impacts travelling, we undertook an exploratory <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40558-019-00151-4">study</a> of overnight visitors at zoological accommodation in lavish surrounds.</p> <p>We divided 12 participants into two groups. One group was directed to abstain from posting on social media but were still able to take photos. The second group had no restrictions on sharing photos. Though the numbers were small, we gathered qualitative information about engagement and attitudes.</p> <p>Participants were invited to book at <a href="http://www.jamalawildlifelodge.com.au/">Jamala Wildlife Lodge</a> in Canberra. The visit was funded by the researchers — Jamala Wildlife Lodge did not sponsor the research and the interviewees’ stay at the Lodge was a standard visit. We then conducted interviews immediately after their departure from the zoo, critically exploring the full experience of their stay.</p> <p>The study confirmed that the desire to share travel pictures in close to real time is strongly scripted into the role of the tourist; altering the way travellers engage with sites they are visiting, but also their sense of urgency to communicate this with remote audiences.</p> <p><strong>Pics or it didn’t happen</strong></p> <p>Participants Mandy and Amy were among those instructed to refrain from posting pictures to social media while at the zoo. They described having to refrain from social media use as a disappointment, even though it seemed to further their engagement.</p> <p><em>Interviewer: Did you look at your social media throughout your stay or did you refrain?</em></p> <p><em>Mandy: A bit yeah. But even then, probably not reading it as much as I often would. I don’t think I commented on anything yeah.</em></p> <p><em>Amy: Even today when we put something up [after staying at the Zoo] about the things we’d done today and only a few people had liked it, there was that little bit of disappointment that ‘Oh more people haven’t liked my post.’ Where we didn’t have that for the previous 24 hours [because of the experiment] … because nobody knew about it.</em></p> <p>The desire for social media recognition resumed after leaving the zoo. For Michelle, posting after the experience presented new concerns:</p> <p><em>Interviewer: How did you feel about not being able to post?</em></p> <p><em>Michelle: Spanner in the works! For me personally not being able to post was a negative experience because I wanted to show people what we’re doing, when we’re doing it.</em></p> <p><em>And I also feel, like a couple of people knew we were going to the zoo, right, and knew that we couldn’t use social media. So, when I eventually post it, they’re going to go, ‘She’s been hanging on to those and now she’s posting them and that’s just a bit weird.’ Like, to post it after the event. Everyone normally posts it in real time.</em></p> <p>Later, Michelle commented that withholding content from posting to social media also diminished a part of the experience itself:</p> <p><em>I sort of feel like if we don’t share the photos it’s like a tree fell down in the forest and no one heard it, like, we’ve had this amazing experience and if I don’t share them, then no one’s going to know that we had this experience, you know, apart from us.</em></p> <p>Tips garnered from travelgrammers fill lots of online video tutorials.</p> <p><strong>Centre Stage</strong></p> <p>Digital photography and social media transform the relationship between the travelling self and its audience, as individuals have an expanded — and potentially diversified — audience.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160738315300335">Selfies in tourist contexts</a> reflect the tourist gaze back at the tourist, rather than outward.</p> <p>The perfect digital postcard now incorporates the self centrestage. As one participant suggested:</p> <p><em>Shannon: It almost feels like it’s kind of an expected behaviour when you are doing something touristy … We’ve actually had tour guides before … kind of a bit disappointed if you don’t take a photograph.</em></p> <p>The purpose of photography has <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1470357207084865">shifted</a> from a memory aid to a way of sharing experience in the moment. There is tension now between the need to capture tourist experiences for digital sharing and individual engagement in the tourist activity. Decrying the desire to use photography as a way of communicating experience will not constructively address this tension.</p> <p>To ensure tourism sustainability, and engagement with their target market, tourism providers need to explore better ways to manage travellers’ face-to-face and digital engagement.</p> <p>Digital engagements have become a defining part of travel, and organisations should be encouraged to promote online sharing of experiences — phone charging stations and photo competitions were two suggestions offered by our interviewees.</p> <p>In contrast, device-free days or activities could be another way to encourage face-to-face engagement and prompt tourists to be more considered with their online sharing.</p> <p><em>Written by Michael James Walsh, Naomi F Dale and Raechel Johns. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://theconversation.com/travelgram-live-tourist-snaps-have-turned-solo-adventures-into-social-occasions-124583"><em>The Conversation.</em></a></p>

Travel Tips

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Soccer fan captures hilarious selfie with Prince George

<p>A lucky soccer fan has captured a selfie with Prince George after seeing the Cambridge family out at a soccer game.</p> <p>Twitter user @CoProNorfolk was at the Saturday match between Aston Villa and Norwich when he noticed the royal family enjoying the game.  </p> <p>Taking a sneaky over-the-shoulder selfie, the fan managed to capture a deadpan stare from Prince George.</p> <p>"Not The Best game of Football I've Seen ... Who's That behind me though??" the tweet read.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Hey .. Self Care Saturday..Out at Carrow Road .. Not The Best game of Football I've Seen @ Carrow Road as Norwich loose To villa 5-1 .. Who's That behind me though ?? <a href="https://t.co/ECtXrjDUbs">pic.twitter.com/ECtXrjDUbs</a></p> — Co•Production Norfolk (@CoProNorfolk) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoProNorfolk/status/1180533852839841794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">5 October 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Prince George and his father William were thrilled at the outcome of the game, which saw Aston Villa winning the match 5 to 1.</p> <p>Princess Charlotte also attended the game, but was less interested in the outcome. </p> <p>In another sweet snap posted by the Kensington Royal Instagram page, Prince George is jumping for joy with his father and mother. There are rumours that the excited royal was shushed by Prince William as they were sitting among the losing home fans and he was being mindful of his son rubbing the win in their faces.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3P_hXWl6fV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3P_hXWl6fV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">🎥 @SoccerAM — a fantastic performance from Aston Villa @AVFCofficial at Norwich today! 👏⚽</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/kensingtonroyal/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Kensington Palace</a> (@kensingtonroyal) on Oct 5, 2019 at 1:27pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>It appears that members of the British royal family aren’t too keen on posing for selfies with well-wishers.</p> <p>In 2018, Duchess Meghan informed fans that she wasn’t “allowed” to take one and back in 2015, Prince Harry said that he “hates” the selfie trend.</p> <p>"I know you're young, but selfies are bad. Just take a normal photograph!" he told a fan in Canberra back in 2015.</p> <p>However, this doesn’t appear to stop fans from getting photos with the Duchess of Cambridge and the Queen herself.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">“We’re not allowed to do selfie” or “Harry don’t want”?!?! <a href="https://t.co/uPEq4uWIJ1">pic.twitter.com/uPEq4uWIJ1</a></p> — PyleArte (@YleArt) <a href="https://twitter.com/YleArt/status/936576010325254145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">1 December 2017</a></blockquote> <p>Aussie hockey players Jayde Taylor and Brooke Peris were stoked to notice Her Royal Highness had “photobombed” a selfie they took together during an event in Glasgow back in 2014.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Ahhh The Queen photo-bombed our selfie!! 😄 👑 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/royalty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#royalty</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sheevensmiled?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sheevensmiled</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amazing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#amazing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Glasgow2014?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Glasgow2014</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Hockeyroos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hockeyroos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AusComGames?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AusComGames</a> <a href="http://t.co/ZMtHYFUqHk">pic.twitter.com/ZMtHYFUqHk</a></p> — Jayde Taylor (@_JaydeTaylor) <a href="https://twitter.com/_JaydeTaylor/status/492269017215012864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">24 July 2014</a></blockquote>

International Travel

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A selfie-loving emu is quickly putting a small Queensland town on the map

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A town in the Queensland Hinterland is quickly finding itself on the map after news got out about a fun-run’s local mascot: Fluffy the emu.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fluffy has been turning up every Saturday to keep fun-run joggers company as they run through Nambour.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The emu is even ready to help organisers set up before the sun rises.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We don’t get big numbers normally, but since Fluffy has been around our numbers have been increasing,” Parkrun organiser Melissa Taylor told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">7 News</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Organisers said that Fluffy has been boosting numbers as people are flying from around the nation to get a photo with the emu.</span></p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F7NEWSAdelaide%2Fvideos%2F2455662484494154%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, event organisers were worried last month as Fluffy and emu buddy Muffy might be forcibly relocated from the Nambour site due to a complaint. The complaint that was lodged to Queensland’s Parks and Wildlife Services.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">QPWS spoke to </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">7 News</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and said that at the time, there is no intention to remove the animals. Rangers would be monitoring the emus closely.</span></p>

Domestic Travel

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Airline “prohibits” passengers from taking photos onboard flight

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Garuda Airlines has found itself in some hot water recently after an internal memo circulated saying that passengers were “prohibited” from taking photos or videos whilst being on board their flight.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The memo circulated around July 14, saying that, “It is not permissible to document activities on the plane, either in the form of photos or videos, by the cabin crew or passengers.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The letter was quickly shared online and went viral according to Indonesian news site </span><a href="https://kumparan.com/@kumparanbisnis/penumpang-garuda-indonesia-dilarang-foto-di-dalam-pesawat-1rTeLeiiZFI"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kumparan</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tone of the memo has since been softened, with another internal memo going around on July 16 saying that travellers are being “urged” instead of “prohibited”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The initial notice also said that passengers could be “sanctioned” by the airline for breaking the rules, but it is currently unclear as to whether this is still the case.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The amended statement was signed by operational director of Garuda Indonesia, Captain Bambang Adisurya Angkasa, who said that the measures are being introduced as a part of the airline’s commitment to protecting the privacy of all passengers and crew.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This appeal is based on reports, suggestions and input from passengers who feel uncomfortable and disturbed by shooting and documentation activities without prior permission from the concerned person,” said Angkasa, according to </span><a href="https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20190716115331-4-85257/garuda-larang-foto-selfie-di-pesawat-ini-penjelasannya"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CNBC Indonesia</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He added that passengers are still able to take photos for personal use, such as selfies, as long as they’re not disturbing other travellers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"This appeal is intended so that all Garuda Indonesia flight operations comply with applicable rules and regulations including the aviation law, ITE Law, and other related laws."</span></p>

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