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How did the role of social media and the sudden growth of slow travel aggravate ‘travel dysmorphia’ among people?
From a mental health perspective, social media has changed travel from a personal experience into a public performance. Earlier, travel was something you did for yourself. Today, it’s something you’re expected to document, aestheticise, and justify. With the rise of slow travel, digital nomad lifestyles, and “travel-as-identity” content, people aren’t just comparing destinations anymore — they’re comparing how meaningfully, how frequently, and how enviably they travel.
News reports and behavioural studies over the last few years have shown that constant exposure to curated travel lives creates unrealistic benchmarks. What we see online is not real life — it’s a highlight reel. But psychologically, the brain doesn’t always register that difference. Over time, this creates a sense that “everyone else is living better than me,” even when that’s objectively untrue.
From your practice or observation, what kinds of clients seem most vulnerable to travel-related dissatisfaction and status anxiety?
This is something that we can often spot in young adults, professionals in their 20s and 30s, and individuals who are in a transition phase – the first years of the career, changes in relationships, planning for fertility, or experiencing burnout. These are times when one’s sense of identity is delicate, and the comparison gets aggravated.
People who are already high-achieving, perfectionistic, or socially anxious tend to be more vulnerable. So do individuals who equate success with experiences rather than stability. Interestingly, people who are financially responsible or family-oriented often feel worse — not because they’re unhappy, but because social media makes their choices look “less exciting.”
Research on social comparison theory consistently shows that people compare upward — to those who appear better off — which fuels dissatisfaction rather than motivation.
What psychological mechanisms are at play when someone feels they haven’t travelled ‘enough’ or ‘well enough’?
At the core, this is about distorted self-worth. The mind begins to equate travel with personal value — “If I haven’t been there, done that, or posted it, I’m behind.” This taps into fear of missing out (FOMO), scarcity mindset, and identity anxiety.
Another major mechanism is story comparison.
Individuals do not only compare trips; they also compare personal life stories. When a journey is used as a symbol of liberty, achievement, recovery, or finding oneself, the lack of such experiences may feel like a failure of one’s self, even if the person’s life is stable, full of meaning, and gratifying in other ways.
From a psychological point of view, the mind is designed to highlight what it lacks rather than what it has – and social networking sites are perpetually catering to that prejudice.
How can repeated exposure to aspirational travel content distort a person’s perception of their own life and experiences?
Repeated exposure normalises an unrealistic baseline. When luxury stays, constant holidays, and remote work from exotic locations appear daily on your screen, ordinary life starts to feel inadequate — even though it’s completely normal.
Studies in media psychology show that frequent exposure to idealised content reduces life satisfaction and increases anxiety, especially when people consume content passively. Over time, people start discounting their own experiences — a short family trip, a restful staycation, or meaningful time at home — because it doesn’t “measure up” visually or socially.
In therapy, we often remind clients: your life is lived in full scenes, not curated frames. Travel dysmorphia isn’t about travel at all — it’s about losing perspective in a comparison-heavy digital world.
Final note from a mental health professional
Travel can be enriching, but it should never become a yardstick for self-worth. If travel content leaves you feeling anxious, behind, or inadequate, that’s not wanderlust — that’s comparison fatigue. The healthiest relationship with travel is one where it adds to your life, not one where it makes you question your value.
By: S Giriprasad, a psychologist at Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bangalore
