There are several good points here, but this trend is certainly not new. Before the internet, there were plenty of bland tourist traps, catering to a generic ta

There are several good points here, but this trend is certainly not new. Before the internet, there were plenty of bland tourist traps, catering to a generic taste or a stereotype of what “local” culture should look and feel like. Then travel guides like Lonely Planet helped travelers discover more authentic places that were off the beaten path, which soon meant they were neither anymore. What the internet has mainly done is accelerate something that was already there. Where in the past something could go from being a quirky find to a packed tourist trap over years, now it can be months. I do think the proprietors of the old “tourist traps” are now actively catering to different tastes, to actively target the type of taste and aesthetic that does well on Instagram etc. but that’s perhaps even an improvement. The good thing is that all these online discovery platforms pair well with old fashioned serendipity: walk around until you are lost. Then check to make sure a place is not too popular on Foursquare or Tripadvisor :)