A new poll has uncovered the most hated photo on Facebook. It turns out that people really don’t like seeing their friends’ vacation pictures plastering their newsfeed.
The study – conducted by insurance firm Aviva – found that 73 per cent pf people are annoyed by seeing other people’s vacation photos on social media. However, that didn’t stop them from sharing their own holiday memories. More than three quarters of the same sample group (77 per cent) say that they regularly post vacation pics.
So, basically, we’re hypocrites. We want to share photos of our adventures and travels, we just don’t want to bother looking at other people’s.
“A holiday is, for many, a time to switch-off, but it would seem that taking a break doesn’t apply to social media,” said Adam Beckett, Propositions Director at Aviva. “Now, we’re sharing our holiday memories as soon as they happen, and with a much wider circle of friends and family.”
Why do we do it? Well, most people just want to share where they’re at and what they’re doing with friends back home. Others like to boast. One fifth (21 per cent) of people surveyed admitted they like to post their vacation pics to show off to their followers, and another 10 per cent said they mostly do it to make others jealous.
The most irritating pose? People especially can’t stand the “hot dog legs” images. These are those ubiquitous photos of the person at the beach or pool who snaps a shot of their legs while laying out. Everybody posts that picture, and apparently nobody likes it. (It’s called “hot dog legs” because this pic is often accompanied by a caption asking whether they’re hot dogs or legs.)
People also seem to enjoy photographing their own feet on the beach much more than other people like looking at pictures of feet on a beach.
Being conducted by an insurance company, the study also pointed out that as well as annoying your friends, posting vacation photos in real time can also be dangerous. Timely updates that you’re out of town can make you an easy target for potential burglars.
“Posting pictures and checking-in on social media while away could potentially leave a home vulnerable to thieves,” Beckett said. “The best time to post holiday pictures to social media is when you’re back home. If you really can’t wait to share, then at least make sure you’re only posting to a closed circle of trusted friends and family.”
Remember to use the privacy settings for your social media updates and be aware of what you are making public for anyone to see. (See also: The biggest online security mistakes you are probably making.)
