TikTok is redefining how we explore the world. From uncovering hidden gems to sparking debates over excessive tourism and ethical travel practices, TikTok is shaping travel decisions for mns, National Geographic reports.

The social media app’s magic lies in its bite-sized, scroll-worthy videos. While Instagram shows off picture-perfect poses and YouTube asks for a 30 minute commitment, TikTok cuts right to the chase. Creator Emma Cooke explains the app’s allure: “If a picture is worth 1,000 words, a video is worth 10,000.” Translation? TikTok is where you get the real deal — no Photoshop required.

TikTok is a perfect medium for travel content, which has skyrocketed 410% on the app since 2021. The app’s users — 70% of which are under 34, a demographic group particularly interested in travel — report using the app to plan itineraries over legacy trip-planning sites like Tripadvisor. Taking a look at TikTok, it’s easy to see why: searching “things to do in Paris” will hand you an endless scroll of must-visit spots and hacks you didn’t even know you needed. The app even tailors content to your location, so for many it’s like having a personal tour guide in your pockets.

The app’s travel trends range from surprisingly useful to downright quirky. We have the grocery store tourism, destination dupes, airport tray aesthetics, and more. On the more adventurous side, some creators have embraced “raw dogging” flights — facing long haul trips with no entertainment or distractions. Why? We’re not entirely sure, but TikTok has a knack for making even the oddest ideas go viral.

It’s not all sunshine and hashtags: For all its perks, TikTok’s influence comes with a few red flags. Viral videos can turn quiet, off-the-beaten-path spots into overcrowded messes. Take Barcelona’s Carmel Bunkers — one video later, and the area was overrun with tourists, leaving locals to deal with littering, noise, and vandalism. Even businesses are feeling the heat, with New York’s Dae Café going so far as to ban filming because TikTokers were clogging up their space.

The final verdict: It’s a goldmine of tips, tricks, and inspo, but it also raises questions about sustainability and ethics. One thing’s for sure, though — TikTok’s influence on travel isn’t going away anytime soon.

Prepare for a major Chrome revamp. Google is currently engaged in a “multi-year project” that will see the tech giant migrate its laptop-based operating system ChromeOS to its mobile operating system Android, according to a report from Android Authority.

While this isn’t a huge surprise, it is a bit of a twist. Google announced its plan to develop ChromeOS on the Android stack in June, with reported plans to streamline engineering efforts and integrate AI features faster. However, recent developments indicate that cross-pollination between the two operating systems is going deeper than initially expected — especially with the company merging Android and hardware teams, testing desktop windowing on Android tablets, and adding Android extensions to Chrome.

Why is this happening? This potential migration comes at a time where Google has been facing growing scrutiny, alongside the possibility of being forced to sell Chrome — making the shift to Android a strategically significant move to maintain its hardware ecosystem’s relevance. The move would also help streamline engineering resources by concentrating the company’s efforts on one operating system alone, allowing Google to build more Android apps, target more users, and beat out the competition — ahem, Apple — for users and customers.

Tags: