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| Young people reviewed their check-in photos |
Looking for new “locations” to hunt for photos
In recent days, when surfing through social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok, one can't help but notice the abundance of photos from young people checking in (marking their locations through photos) at Aeon Mall Hue Shopping Center. With its multi-experience model, large space, and numerous renowned brands catering to a wide range of interests, this shopping mall has become a popular destination for the youth to hunt for check-in photos, have fun, and shop.
Nguyen Tran Bao Anh, a first-year student at a university in Hue, shared: “I have been to Aeon Mall many times and have collected a pretty good amount of photos. There are many beautiful areas and spaces here with numerous stores, fashion brands, and dining options, perfect for posing thousands of great photos.”
Generation Z (born roughly between 1997 and 2012) is incredibly energetic and loves to explore. Many young people have joined the “wanderlust club”, with the love of checking in. Whenever there is a new entertainment spot, coffee shop, restaurant, or shopping destination, they plan, invite their friends, and set off on adventures to hunt for photos.
Just a few months ago, social network was buzzing with the trend of checking in at a coffee shop at 4 A.M., at Phe La (Tong Dan Street, Hanoi). Many young people left home at the crack of dawn to make it in time for their check-in. As a result, Tong Dan Street was lit up with lights and filled with people queuing. Some young people, who traveled from Hue to Hanoi, also followed this trend. At Aeon Mall Hue, it is not uncommon to see young people dressed up and put on makeup to be ready to pose for photos, even before the opening time of the mall (at 10 A.M., on weekdays and 9 A.M., on weekends).
I visited a few newly opened coffee shops with beautiful spaces, but every time I went, I had to turn back because there were no seats available. In these coffee shops, where every corner was suitable for posing for check-in photos, young people took turns posing for photos and recording videos. They admired the photos they had just taken, then moved on to another corner to enrich their photo albums. Some people even prepared extra clothes, dresses, and accessories to change, and pose for photos in different angles, then gradually posted them on Facebook. Phan Thi Uyen Nhi, 21 years old, shared: “Young people, especially girls like me, love posing for photos and posting them on social network as a form of entertainment. As soon as we discover a new, “hot”, and beautiful place, it is enough for my group of friends to gather on a free day to escape the sun or rain.”
To ensure the check-in photos always look beautiful
The trend of posing for check-in photos among young people is nothing wrong, if not to say it is cute. However, to ensure that the check-in photos are always beautiful and valuable, the photographers also need to pay attention to many things.
Some check-in trends have been widely praised, but many others have been considered strange. A typical example is the trend among young people of checking in at the coffee shop at 4 A .M., which has caused a lot of controversy. Many people have pointed out the apparent contradiction of individuals who are often late for school or work, but are somehow able to be at the coffee shop at exactly 4 A.M., to check-in. In another recent viral photo hunting “location”, young people stopped their vehicles in front of surveillance cameras on the street (in Hanoi) and recorded the moment they were posing for photos.
In Hue, many times I witnessed how young people rushed to Aeon Mall as soon as the stores opened, grabbing trial lipsticks and cosmetics to put on makeup. Some even try on clothes in clothing stores to take selfies for social media, and once they got the satisfying photos, they quietly left. This behavior is quite unsightly to others.
In fact, the check-in trend among young people can bring about many values if it develops in the positive direction. With the rapid spread of social network nowadays, each of their photos contributes to attracting more visitors to the destinations. Many young people have sought out cultural spaces to pose for photos. Besides the moments of “virtual living” with beautiful photos, they also have the opportunity to explore, expand their knowledge of the culture at the destinations and spread good values.
Having visited the Imperial Citadel many times, I have always admired the young people who wear traditional costumes, posing for photos and recording videos to create TikTok videos of their experiences in Hue. They check-in at the locations that are new to them, but instead of just keeping the photos, they introduce the beauty of cultural heritage and contribute to promoting Hue tourism, and Vietnam tourism. This helps their check-in photos receive more likes and look much more beautiful compared to the strange check-in trends.