Social media is undoubtedly a huge part of everyone’s lives, with most people waking up each morning to flick through their multiple news feeds to catch up on what’s happened while they’ve slept. There’s no denying that the rise of social media has been hugely positive. Imagine being told 20-years-ago that you would have a device in your pocket that’s, more or less, your second brain – it’s amazing. Although the cons don’t outway the pros, there are still a few negative aspects social media brings, and at this year’s Glastonbury Festival it was quite noticeable.
Glastonbury 2016 was my 5th stint at Worthy Farm, and even though I worked there through the shit weather, it was still an incredible year. However this year, there was a difference in people’s behaviour which I believe stems from the use of social media.
How many times have you flicked through someone’s Glastonbury photos on Facebook or Instagram and thought: “I need to go there!” – well? Don’t worry that’s how I got hooked too. However, I had friends and teachers who taught me what Glastonbury was about before I’d ever set foot in Pilton – something a picture can’t do.
There seemed to be a much younger crowd this year, which obviously isn’t a bad thing at all, but it was noticeable that they cared more about portraying a false persona online than actually investing in the festival’s culture. On Sunday night, at the Stone Circle, there was a fight between a few people – yes a fight. Glastonbury veterans, have you ever heard of such a thing? Not only that, there was a man covered from head to toe in the thick, grey mud who head-butted, and tried to start an another fight with, a young, cheeky Nandos looking guy at the Pyramid Stage. Seriously, violence at Glastonbury is usually unheard of, and within the five times I’ve visited, I’ve seen nothing like it.
Now, I’m not saying just because you like photos on Facebook it means you’re going to be a dick. I’m saying social media doesn’t explain the unity, peace and the festival’s free party heritage when you see a selfie of Stevie and the boys twisted as fuck in their bucket hats watching My Nu Leng. It’s this lack of understanding that people think they can come to Glastonbury to behave like they’re at a Wireless or Creamfields.
The harsh reality of social media is gradually exposing the festival’s secrets to the masses. Back in the day, the BBC could give you an insight to the festival with the performances from the main stages. Now, people are sharing moments in Shanghai-La, The Common, and Block 9 that only festival-goers would have known about. Of course, it’s for everyone to enjoy, but due to a significant amount of foot traffic this year these areas were sometimes closed, and as a result, people smashed down the fences just to sneak in. The South East areas of the festival that help to breed the festival’s integrity are slowly being stripped away with every snap posted on the internet.
Reminiscing over photos and videos from the weekend is great and toys with your Glasto-blues. But, Glastonbury is a massive and overwhelming place that needs you undivided attention at all times, or you’ll miss it.
I guess the best analogy I could give to a newcomer is to compare most festivals to party islands in Europe and Glastonbury to travelling to Asia. You go to Glastonbury to learn about the culture and try to become a better person – while still partying your tits off.
