TikTokers and travel-related incidents.

TikTok's growth is giving content creators more advantages in the digital advertising market. According to a report by Q&Me, post-Covid-19, TikTok is the fastest-growing app in Vietnam with approximately 20 million users. Of these, the number of daily active users has increased by 74%.

Alongside platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, the short-video app TikTok has emerged as an attractive money-making channel for content creators. Above all, its explosive growth in both user numbers and engagement has made TikTok a cash cow for KOCs and KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders). However, the constant pursuit of trends, the increasing traffic, and the pressure to collaborate with brands have inadvertently fostered a sense of power and illusion among TikTokers.

Causing a disturbance at the airport.

Recently, there have been a series of incidents involving airline passengers violating aviation security and safety regulations, causing public outcry. Specifically, some young passengers, following trends, intentionally engage in attention-grabbing actions to attract viewers on social media platforms.

To stand out, passengers would mount their phones on the airplane window, using the window shield to hold the phone steady, and press the video recording button to "capture clouds" or record takeoffs and landings. Later, a TikTok account named HKT (with 57,000 followers) posted a clip of herself sitting on the baggage claim area with the caption: "Ignoring everything, drifting aimlessly." The clip went viral on social media, drawing criticism for the female TikToker's behavior. The account owner subsequently removed the clip from her TikTok channel.

Reportedly, these antics at the airport originated from a 15-second TikTok video about air travel tips. According to LBC, John Holland-Kaye, CEO of Heathrow Airport (London, UK), said the demand for wheelchair assistance at the airport is unusually high compared to pre-pandemic times.

Explaining this phenomenon, Holland-Kaye said that "travel tips" on TikTok are the main cause. In a viral clip posted on the platform in June, user WolfJenko said he faked an injury to get through airport security faster during the peak summer travel season when many airports were congested.

Dancing near the airplane

In mid-July 2022, a TikTok video clip surfaced showing a young woman dancing in an airport apron while planes were moving nearby. The girl even walked directly towards the planes, stopping just before touching the red safety line separating the parking spaces. This clip was shared on social media and received strong negative reactions from netizens.

Subsequently, the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority requested a detailed report on the incident. According to Phu Quoc International Airport, the incident occurred more than a month ago at Phu Quoc airport. The female passenger was on a dedicated bus heading to her flight; as soon as the bus door opened, the young woman ran out to pose for a TikTok video.

Airport security personnel on duty at Phu Quoc Airport promptly approached the passenger and instructed them to return to a safe location. At the time of the incident, airport security believed the passenger was merely acting impulsively due to being at the airport, but since no serious consequences arose, they did not detain the passenger for disruptive behavior or failure to comply with aviation safety regulations. However, considering the potentially serious consequences of the incident, with the video spreading rapidly on TikTok, the Civil Aviation Authority has decided to ban the passenger from flying for six months.

Controversial statement

Recently, a video circulating on social media showed a conversation between a journalist and TikTokers about a TikToker's claim that they "can't eat Vietnamese fish but can eat Korean fish." The video only captured the journalist's statement, presenting persuasive arguments that young people shouldn't underestimate domestic cuisine just because they "praise" foreign food.

Specifically, the female journalist said: "There are many tourist destinations, each with its own beauty and charm. You say you like devilfish, but you also say you can't eat it in Vietnam, yet you can eat it in Korea. Think about it, our coastline is 3,200 km long, so aren't our fish delicious? Why don't you talk about how they prepare the fish, their culinary culture, how they cook, or how they preserve it so we can learn?"

After the incident went viral online, TikToker GMV, the person involved, clarified the situation on her personal account with over 8,000 followers. She admitted to mentioning Vietnamese and Korean fish in the video, but claimed she had caused a misunderstanding.

Deadly tour guide

Several popular travel bloggers are facing strong criticism for promoting unsafe camping locations. A sudden flash flood struck a popular camping spot in China's Longcaogou Valley, Longmen Mountain, Sichuan Province, on August 13th. Many people were camping near a dry stream bed when the water rose in seconds, killing seven people who couldn't escape in time. Eight others were injured.

Following the incident, bloggers who had recommended the place faced strong criticism from the Chinese public and media. The reason was that they failed to provide safety warnings to tourists. In some videos, the bloggers even instructed visitors on how to climb over the fence to enter the restricted area.

Destroying scenic spots

In April, Dhungana, a farmer in Nepal, suffered losses of over $20,000, largely due to damaged crops. Dhungana said it all started in mid-March when a video of a local woman standing in a field of daisies went viral on TikTok.

"Things have spiraled out of control since then," the man recounted.

In Nepal, chrysanthemums are an expensive flower, requiring careful cultivation and possessing high commercial value. Among Nepal's abundant reserves of medicinal and aromatic herbs, chrysanthemum products contribute significantly to the global healthcare industry, which is worth trillions of dollars. This market segment alone is projected to reach $412 billion by 2025.

Anh Thi