Influencers Face Scrutiny for Culturally Insensitive Behavior Abroad
From Auschwitz visits to sacred site photos, social media personalities are increasingly criticized for disrespecting local customs and laws while traveling.
Social media influencers have come under fire for a series of culturally insensitive actions while traveling abroad, sparking backlash and calls for greater respect for local customs and laws.
The Ingham Family, who boast over 1.3 million YouTube subscribers, recently faced criticism for a video documenting their visit to Auschwitz. Despite assurances of respect from content creator Sarah Ingham, the video included footage from inside the concentration camp. The museum's policy requires permission for filming for commercial use, including social media and YouTube. Following the public outcry, clips of the interior appear to have been removed from the video.
This incident is one in a series of missteps by influencers traveling internationally. In 2023, an unidentified woman was criticized for posing naked with a 700-year-old sacred tree in Bali. The Kayu Putih tree, located at a temple, is considered holy by locals. Indonesian senator Ni Luh Djelantik publicly condemned the act, stating, "To all foreigners who disrespect our land, Bali is our home - not yours!" The woman was reportedly arrested. A similar incident occurred in 2022 when Russian yoga influencer Alina Fazleeva was deported from Bali for posting comparable photos at the same sacred tree. She later issued an apology video.
Clothing choices have also been a point of contention. In 2021, former Love Island star Georgia Steel reportedly faced criticism from locals in the Maldives for posing topless for Instagram photos. A local source told The Sun that such actions are "incredibly insulting" and that influencers should consider legal consequences. Similarly, in 2022, Australian influencer Mikaela Testa shared that her Airbnb host in the Cocos Islands asked her to cover up due to the area being predominantly Muslim. Testa stated she respected the request and covered up to show deference to local wishes.
Beyond personal conduct, influencers have also been linked to broader trends that have caused disruption. In 2023, "sushi terrorism" became a notable issue in Japan after a video went viral of a person licking communal soy sauce bottles at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. Other diners then replicated the behavior, including licking spoons for green tea powder and tampering with sushi plates. The restaurant chain Sushiro stated it would pursue legal action against those involved and replaced all soy sauce bottles at the affected store.
In another instance, beauty influencer James Charles was criticized by Australians in 2023 for misidentifying a popular sausage sizzle at a Bunnings hardware store as a "hot dog." While the incident was a cultural misunderstanding, some social media users jokingly called for his "deportation" and accused him of disrespecting Australian culture.