Brits have always delighted in sharing the minute details of their holidays to the envy of friends and colleagues.
And now it appears that more than half of UK holidaymakers can’t bear to wait until their return to brag about their exploits, using social media to keep those who are deskbound up-to-date with their latest goings on.
Research from T-Mobile has found that Facebook and Twitter are used by 51 per cent of Brits abroad to post pictures of themselves at famous foreign landmarks.
Three in ten also have no qualms about posting status updates relating to their holiday, while six in ten argue that they have a right to share their holiday highs online.
The phenomenon of social media boasting has been dubbed “smoasting”, with a number of motivations cited for taking up the practice. While half argue that they are doing it solely because “everyone else does it”, four in ten do it to take pure delight in annoying those who are at home.
It was also revealed that 15 per cent of those surveyed engaged in “smoasting” purely to spark jealously in an ex-partner.
Travellers from Northern Ireland are the most prolific group of “smoasters” according to the research, with 70 per cent using status updates to share details of their trip overseas. This was closely followed by Scots and Londoners at 65 per cent.
Celebrities have also joined ordinary travellers in their love of “smoasting” with Rhianna, Tulisa and Victoria Beckham featuring in the top five of those who carry out the practice while on their travels.
“We’re not an especially boastful nation – we usually tend to play down our achievements but social networking has enabled us to post updates and photos about what we’re up to anywhere in the world,” said psychologist Jo Hemmings.
“Posting updates on social networking sites, while we’re on holiday, is the modern day version of sending a postcard – but of course is much more fun, having a wider audience and a far greater reach.”
