Having the “Los Angeles (LA) experience” is not just about going out and having fun with friends or family; it has become a major trend all over social media. Places like The Grove, Brandy Melville, Beverly Hills, Erewhon, and Malibu Beach show up in so many TikTok videos and Instagram posts that it almost feels like everyone is coming together to visit these places. People have their drinks in hand, wear cute, trendy outfits, and take professional photos, which makes Los Angeles look lively and exciting.
It is very easy to understand why this has become so popular throughout platforms. Almost everywhere in this city looks intriguing and beautiful on camera. The Grove has stunning lights, with amazing stores as well as delicious food. Malibu Beach has the most breathtaking sunsets that make any picture look ten times better. Erewhon is known for their expensive groceries and food, particularly their smoothies, that people enjoy showing the internet. Social media depicts everything that looks picture perfect, and LA has a lot to offer. When people view these posts, they want to go to all the places they have seen on their feed and experience every bit of it.
Although through social media everything can seem perfect, it is not always what it seems to be. Most people only post their best moments. They do not show how expensive or crowded these places can be. Shopping at Brandy Melville or walking around Beverly Hills with the most high-end stores can bring joy to someone. On the other hand, it can also bring in doubt if there should be a certain standard for their clothing, or how they are supposed to look when coming to places like these. The “look” people generally see online takes time and effort as well as money to become like the “ideal influencer.”
With these places skyrocketing in popularity, it has everyone doing the same thing. The same couple of drinks from Erewhon, the same posts of Malibu Beach, as well as the same clothing from stores like Brandy Melville. It takes away from the purpose of being original and instead sets a standard that causes people to follow. Most people become too focused on getting the perfect picture and what to post online rather than living in the moment and enjoying their time.
Yet, this does not mean the LA experience is bad. These places are popular for one reason: they are fun and exciting to visit. However, it is important to remember that someone’s life does not revolve around social media, and they should never feel that posting is their only life purpose. It is better to have fun taking photos, taking in the views, and having fun in real life, instead of through a screen.
This experience should be about visiting new places or trying new things, and making memories worth a lifetime, and not just posting to their followers. Even if something is not perfect, it still is a real moment that can mean so much more than a social media post.
