On Thursday, September 11, we discussed the question: Is the Internet herding people around like sheep? Why does everyone seem to be going to Japan these days? What makes massive live performances so popular? Why is everything labelled Gluten Free?
Why does everyone seem to be going to Japan these days?
Firstly, the Yen is historically weak, hence the country has become a travel bargain, transformed into a “low-cost travel haven”.
e.g. “Australians are being drawn here in record numbers for many reasons. Top of the list is the weak yen, which means the place is about 25 per cent cheaper for people spending Australian dollars than it was before the pandemic. Japan’s low inflation also means the price of most things is the same as it was 15 years ago when the country was viewed as expensive.”
https://www.afr.com/world/asia/why-everyone-is-going-to-japan-20240122-p5ez66
It is also regarded as a safe, first-world country, offering clean and efficient services, as well as a wealth of culture. These messages have been amplified and passed on through social media such as Instagram and Facebook, and been picked up by tour operators. In an uncertain world, there’s a undercurrent of Carpe diem : seize the day – enjoy the present rather than worry about the future.
Here’s a discussion about the Japan phenomenon on Reddit: Why it feels like everyone in the world is heading to Japan right now : https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/1dr670n/why_it_feels_like_everyone_in_the_world_is/
Why are so many people travelling?
Since the COVID pandemic, there has been an increased appetite for travel: Many people travel the world today due to cheaper and faster transportation, the ease of planning travel through technology and apps, increased globalisation and remote work opportunities, and the desire for new experiences and cultural immersion. Social media also plays a significant role by promoting travel destinations and inspiring people to explore, while a post-pandemic desire to “make up for lost time” has also fueled a surge in travel. (Gemini AI)
Influencers have been blamed for creating Overtourism (which is not the same as “Mass Tourism”,) but they could also be part of the solution: https://thx.agency/en/blogbericht/overtourism-vs-mass-tourism-and-the-social-role-of-influencers/
Envy plays a role: When you look at social media, it seems like everybody else is always travelling and having a great time.. https://www.roadtripsandwine.com/blog/everybody-is-always-traveling-5-truths
The tourism industry is developing niche tours and holidays
These gain wide exposure through search engines, AI and social media. Chatbots, such as ChatGPT can also recommend tailor-made holidays for you, as we discovered in January: https://javeacomputerclub.com/2025/01/17/ai-travel-planning-how-does-it-shape-up/
Here are some examples:
> Saga offers “Perfectly Planned Group Adventures” and cruises aimed at seniors: https://holiday.saga.co.uk/holidays/holiday-types/escorted-tours
> There are International music-themed holidays for music aficionados: https://musicalgetaways.com
> There are also some unusual initiatives! UN Tourism Hosts First Regional Workshop on Wellness Tourism in the Middle East https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4128851.html
Similarly, the Internet and social media have promoted “event-tourism”
“Mass tourism and music-induced event tourism are phenomena amplified by the internet and social media, which facilitate global information sharing and cultural consumption, driving large numbers of people to specific destinations and events, such as massive concerts. This digital infrastructure contributes to pop-culture tourism, allowing fans to organise travel around their favourite bands or artists, thereby creating “gig-tripping” trends that significantly impact local economies and the demand for hospitality services.“ (Gemini AI)
Although a fan may be an individual among tens of thousands of others, the collective shared experience of actually having been at the live event is a powerful emotion.
Has the Internet amplified “Herd mentality and fads?
https://optionalpha.com/learn/herd-mentality
Why are so many products “gluten-free” when only 0.5 to (possibly) 6% of the population may be gluten intolerant? … ”The popularity has also been fuelled by media promotion, which sometimes misrepresents gluten-free foods as healthier for everyone, leading to a rise in people avoiding gluten for general wellness reasons without a medical need” (Gemini AI)
Misinformation like this becomes mainstream. Chris has seen “Gluten Free Shampoo” which is obviously a marketing ploy since you don’t eat shampoo!
Health fads come and go, and doctors are influenced too: Until recently, glucosamine was the popular treatment for arthritis – now it’s collagen. The scientific basis for both treatments is flaky at best. Doctors tend to prescribe based on patients’ requests, which are influenced by “the herd” ! Patients’ requests and physicians’ prescribing behaviour. A systematic review : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0738399125001144
In conclusion:
Even if you do not follow social media, its effects are pervasive. We may think we are rational individuals, capable of making reasoned choices. But we are also social animals, sensitive to the feelings and opinions of those around us. Today “around us” includes not only the people we meet each day, but also those connected via a tangled network of Internet algorithms which herd us unwittingly into corrals we believe we have chosen freely.
Christine Betterton-Jones – Knowledge Junkie