[Camping] How Social Media Influences Camping Choices

How Social Media Influences Camping Choices

Once upon a time, people went camping to enjoy nature, escape stress, and maybe reconnect with themselves. Now? Many people go camping to reconnect with WiFi, ring lights, and the front camera. Thanks to social media, camping has slowly evolved from “let’s enjoy the outdoors” into “wait, don’t eat yet, I haven’t posted this.”

In Malaysia, social media plays a huge role in how people choose where and how to camp. A campsite doesn’t become popular because it’s peaceful or safe—it becomes popular because it’s Instagrammable. Nice sunrise, foggy trees, wooden platforms, fairy lights? Boom. Fully booked for the next three months. If there’s no aesthetic photo angle, people act like the place doesn’t exist.

Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook groups heavily influence camping trends. One viral video of a misty morning in Janda Baik or a river view in Hulu Langat, and suddenly everyone wants to go there. Not because they love nature, but because they want the same shot, same angle, same caption. Copy-paste camping, Malaysian edition.

Social media also shapes what gear people buy. Instead of choosing practical equipment for heat, rain, and humidity, many people choose gear that looks good on camera. Beige tents, matching chairs, wooden tables—very cantik, very aesthetic. But when rain pours and mud appears, suddenly practicality matters more than likes. Nature doesn’t care about your colour theme.

Then there’s the expectation problem. Social media shows only the nice parts: golden sunsets, clean tents, happy faces. It doesn’t show mosquitoes, sweating, mud, bad toilets, or the 2am rain that turns your campsite into a swimming pool. So when reality hits, some campers panic. “Eh, why so uncomfortable?” Because this is camping, not Airbnb.

That said, social media isn’t all bad. It helps people discover new campsites, learn from others, and share safety tips. Many Malaysians first learned about Leave No Trace, wildlife awareness, and camping etiquette through online communities. When used properly, social media can educate, not just entertain.

The key is balance. Go camping for the experience, not just content. Take photos, yes—but also take time to sit quietly, listen to the river, and enjoy the moment without checking your likes. Nature doesn’t need a filter, and peace cannot be uploaded to Instagram.

In the end, the best camping memories are not always the ones you post—but the ones you feel and remember long after the phone battery dies.