Things That Used to Be Fun Until They Got Too Popular

Summary:

• At the time of Instagram’s release, it was a creative platform, now it’s commercialized and competitive with algorithm-powered feeds.

• Music festivals like Coachella used to focus on music, now they’re more about social networks and fashion.

• Mount Everest expeditions were once extreme adventures, now overcrowding has turned it into a congested mountain experience.

It is special to find a secret to something- be it a travel destination, hobby or web site one can use- before everyone finds out. Yet as fame sets in, ease can soon pass, fare change reprisal and the first time allure can be watered down. Although growth is not necessarily bad, there are experiences which definitely transform once they become mainstream. These are some of the ten things which many people believe were better before they emerged into such desirable popularity.

Social media sites such as Instagram

 

At the time of Instagram release in 2010, the application was mostly a creative sharing and connecting platform. The experience changed over time to be algorithm-powered feeds, influencer marketing, and sponsored content. What appeared to be a chronological flow of photos of friends is now highly edited, commercialized, and competitive and less fun than many of the early users found it to be.

Music Festivals Coachella and the like

 

Previously, music festivals used to be focused on music. With Coachella becoming an internationally cultural festival, brand sponsorships, influencer culture, and skyrocketing prices came after it. Although it is still a substantial event, the festival tends to be more about social networks and fashion than music.

Mount Everest Expeditions

 

Mount Everest was a preserve of high-end mountaineers. The availability of commercial expeditions today has offered it to a larger number of climbers however overcrowding has become a major problem. Great queues around the top, environmental issues and danger have turned what was essentially an extreme adventure to a congested mountain experience at peak season.

Times Square in New York City

 

Times Square is still the same, however, with its commercialization as a tourist destination, it has lost its shape. The area is controlled by large digital billboards and chain stores. Although it has been able to attract millions of people annually, its charm does not attract all visitors since most people feel overwhelmed by it unlike quieter neighborhoods within the city.

Streaming on Netflix

 

During its early streaming years, Netflix provided a fairly simple, commercial free platform at reasonable prices. The more the streaming competition, the higher the subscription fee and fragmentation of the content across streams. The initial simplicity of having everything under one roof has been largely lost.

Santorini, Greece

 

Santorini used to be recognized by the availability of a peaceful sunset and whitewashed architecture. With the influx of cruise tourism and exposure of social media, numbers of visitors had skyrocketed. Narrow streets are crowded, places to stay are easily filled and the prices are very high, different to the peaceful environment that most people used to enjoy during peak seasons.

Black Friday Shopping

 

Black Friday was originally a one-day event held after the thanksgiving in the United States and had steep in-store deals. When it had become an international, multi-day sales event, crowds, safety issues, and online competition transformed the situation. There are still deals but now the new and new are more business-oriented and not a community-driven deal.

Yoga as a Global Trend

 

Yoga is an ancient Indian practice and it focuses on consciousness and the well being of the body. Once it turned into a worldwide exercise craze, the philosophical underpinnings of it were often lost between commercial box studios, branded apparel, and the social media aesthetics. Though it has become more accessible, other practitioners believe that its spirituality is being watered down in popular fitness culture.

National Parks such as the Yosemite National Park

 

The formation of national parks was done to conserve beauty of nature and provide peaceful recreation. Over the last few years, there has been record-breaking turnout that has caused traffic jams, trail congestions as well as environmental pressures. The numbers are now aided with the help of reservation systems, and there is a harder time with spontaneous exploration during the peak seasons.