Before social media, they would be taking photos (and later videos) just the same. In fact, before they became ubiquitous in phones, people used to buy cameras (and extra film) specifically for the purpose of using them in their travels.
You, I believe, are making a different observation, which is that taking a photo or recording a film has long been a component of many tourist trips. Which is of course true.
I'll add that likely more people would have done so had film and film development been a lot cheaper. We certainly did trips in the 1980s where we took no camera, or if we did, only a few pictures or perhaps a single roll.
When visiting places on holiday, I've taken my camera with me for the purpose of taking photos. I've also seen people with more expensive cameras (mainly larger lenses) camped out near puffins, on boat trips, etc. with the intention of getting a decent wildlife photo.
Indeed, now that you bring it up, I think a good interpretation of this survey is that more people now are doing photo safaris than they did some decades ago, where "safari" takes on a broader meaning tied to popular culture trends.
It think it's like how many people go to the Louvre for the sole purpose of seeing (and photographing) the Mona Lisa, or (more distantly) the standard itinerary of the Grand Tour, both done because that's what everyone else (that they care about) thinks is the right or cool thing to do.
but I agree with overall sentiment digital cameras allowed basically unlimited number of photos compared to film cameras and were revolutionary in this aspect not being limited by expensive film rolls and related expenses
According to wikipedia [2] the first consumer DSLR camera was in 2000.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_EOS-1D_Mark_III
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_single-lens_reflex_cam...
I like the memories. I enjoy looking through a photo album many years down the line and reminiscing about a great trip.
People take photos to brag.
People take photos to prove to non-believers that something happened.
People take photos to capture beauty.
People used to take photos and people continue to take photos. I suspect the reason has changed.
No, it was not always thus. People would take a camera or a disposable camera, sure, but it wasn’t the focus - it was “oh we should grab a photo for aunt Mabel”. And you’d have 30 shots. For the entire trip.
Going literally to just get photos was also somewhat limited, because who would be crazy enough to go just to get photos for a few friends and acquaintances and never even attempt to enjoy it? A limited number of people.
Social media has really amped it up, including the competitive aspect of it, and the number of people trying to be professional at it.
In the past nobody went to London to take a picture of a phone booth, but you did take a picture of a phone booth anyway.
You'd go to the Horse Guards spot to take a picture, not to enjoy the horses.
In this sense, regular people do visit a spot just to take a picture, and have always done that.
They are enjoying it. They're enjoying it in their own way, and I think there's nothing wrong with that.
I did a little bit of travel when I was young before smartphones were everywhere. There were definitely tourists going to spots to take a picture and then leaving.
It’s literally like a job to them. You can tell when you watch them.
They aren’t going to see a thing and take pictures. they are going to be have pictures of them being there, specifically, to screw with people back home.
I do think there is something wrong with that.
Some people like the adventure of going somewhere and getting a picture to remember it by.
It’s fine. Let them. You’ll be much happier if you focus on your own enjoyment and stop worrying so much about what other people are enjoying.
In almost military fashion/synchronization they immediately get around the pool and start posing, then into the pool where they they carefully wet their hair, took more pictures with heavily orchestrated poses, a few more poses around the pool, and then they were dried off and out. In total it lasted maybe 3 minutes, probably before they raced off to enjoy the next checkbox on their relaxing vacation.
Maybe they can go look at whatever they end up posting on social media and just imagine how amazing it must have been.