Social media luring more into the wilds
Group wants to help curb the impact of more visitors to vulnerable places
Are social media posts harming the outdoors? group called Hikers for an 8th Leave No Trace Principle thinks so, and it’s mounting a campaign to influence a national organization.
The project, launched this month, is urging the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to amend its guidelines for conserving the outdoors.
The group is “concerned about the negative impacts that the publicity afforded by social media brings to some of our beloved — and vulnerable — natural places.”
As such, it wants the Leave No Trace code to adopt a principle that would mitigate the effects of social posting from pristine places.
Currently, Leave No Trace sets forth seven principles for sustainable enjoyment of the outdoors.
We’ve all seen it: That once-in-a-lifetime selfie with an awe-inspiring backdrop, from a mountaintop, a secluded lake, or a sun-speckled rainforest. It inspires wanderlust and drives us to get out there.
But Hikers for an 8th Leave No Trace Principle believes there is a growing problem. Increased traffic to wilderness locations is being driven by social media posts going viral.
To that end, the group proposes the following principle: “Be mindful when posting on social media and consider the potential impacts that rapidly increased use can have on wild places.”
To be sure, Hikers for an 8th Leave No Trace Principle isn’t suggesting fewer people should explore or embark on adventure. Its aim appears to modernize the Leave No Trace ethos to address a growing 21st century issue.
“We are not elitists. We are not secret keepers,” the group says. “We simply love natural places and want to see them responsibly enjoyed and responsibly shared.”