A new trend among Gen Z travelers has faced significant criticism from older generations, who label it as ‘one of the worst trends of all time’.
It often seems that each new trend associated with Gen Z generates a wave of backlash from older individuals.
In many cases, these so-called ‘new’ trends are actually quite common and not uniquely Gen Z creations, evident in trends like ‘silent walks’.
Nonetheless, the disapproval can sometimes be justified, given Gen Z’s reputation for pushing boundaries in pursuit of aesthetics.
This latest trend is being criticized for complicating travel without any apparent benefit.
The trend has been blamed for causing delays, occupying space, and adding to the frustration of the airport experience.
“I really hope we’ve reached peak stupidity. I can’t take much more of this,” lamented one exasperated observer.
So, what exactly is this bothersome airport trend? In essence, it’s relatively straightforward.
When passing through the TSA line before a flight, travelers typically place their belongings into a TSA tray for a quick security check.
This process is already tedious, yet some Gen Zers on TikTok have taken it a step further by neatly arranging their items, photographing their trays, and holding up the line for those waiting behind them.
https://www.tiktok.com/@username/video/7412668072542211360
Unsurprisingly, this act of prolonging an already irritating part of travel has not been well-received by many online.
However, some defend the practice, noting that participants often step out of line or wait until they’re cleared to take their aesthetically pleasing photos.
In fact, some individuals even stage the shots at home, never setting foot in the airport.
https://www.tiktok.com/@username/video/7392662123521789214
Despite this, the trend remains unpopular, seen as an unnecessary addition to the stressful TSA process.
“This trend stresses me out,” one online commenter confessed, “look at all the little things you can leave behind!”
Ultimately, as long as it doesn’t inconvenience others or lead to confrontations, the TSA does not view the trend as problematic.
A TSA Spokesperson shared their perspective with USA Today, stating: “As long as the staged glamour photos are not causing delays or issues with other passengers in the checkpoint, there are no issues.”