I’ve been thinking a lot about those viral social media challenges centered around outdoor activities lately – things like the “carry a Stone to a Special Place” or the various fitness challenges that involve scaling peaks. While they seem like a fun way to engage with nature and encourage physical activity, I’m starting to wonder if they’re subtly eroding the authenticity of the outdoor experience. Are people genuinely connecting with nature, or are they more focused on documenting the “perfect” challenge completion for their followers?
It truly seems like the pressure to perform and capture these moments for social media could be distracting from the intrinsic value of spending time in nature. Rather of simply enjoying the peace and beauty of a hike, people might be overly concerned with getting the right angle, the perfect lighting, or the most remarkable feat to share online. This isn’t to say that sharing outdoor experiences is inherently bad, but perhaps the performative aspect of these challenges overshadows the personal and reflective aspects of being outdoors. Are we losing the ability to simply be present in nature, without the need to broadcast it to the world?
I’m curious to here others’ perspectives on this. Is it possible for social media challenges to coexist with authentic outdoor experiences, or is there an inherent conflict between the two? What are some ways we can encourage genuine connection with nature while still participating in online communities?