Gen Z is being criticized for their ‘ridiculous’ new trend of taking aesthetic photos of their TSA security tray.
The trend involves first organizing and styling a TSA drawer, then taking a top-down photo of your carefully arranged items before they pass through the x-ray detector.
Graphic designer and TikTok influencer Piper Taich started a huge trend after posting photos of her own carefully presented TSA trays.
The photos show items such as sunglasses, bags, shoes, cameras and jewelry.
Piper Taich, 25, is a graphic designer and TikTok influencer who creates aesthetic “TSA” trays for photo shoots in her Chicago home
Commentators suggested that flyers who want to join the trend wait until they’ve gone through TSA security to set up the trays and take photos of them.
While this trend has been frowned upon by many TikTok users, it’s also becoming a trend at airports, with people trying to take photos of themselves and travelers waiting in line for the photos not being particularly happy about it.
One commenter said: ‘I work at LAX and this is annoying. We’re just trying to get to work and you’re in our way lol.’
Another said: ‘Girl, it’s stressful enough, why?’
“Get out of the way,” wrote another.
Some TikTok creators have responded online by clarifying that the photos they post were taken at home, with a TSA-style tray purchased and set up as if they were at an airport.
Taich, 25, does just that — she prints out a fake airline ticket and assembles an aesthetically pleasing “TSA” tray for a photo shoot. She said she bought and assembled the tray in her Chicago home, according to the New York Times.
After receiving some negative feedback claiming the trend was “pointless,” she responded with, “The point is that it’s fun and it’s art. I definitely didn’t come up with this concept, I’ve seen it everywhere, but it’s a really fun way to express my love for fashion and artistic direction.”
However, the trend was staged to look so much like TSA security that people began copying the trend at real airports as well.
VIDEO FROM AIRPORT ONE
“The point is that it’s fun and it’s art. I definitely didn’t come up with this concept, I’ve seen it everywhere, but it’s a really fun way to express my love for fashion and artistic direction,” Taich said
Taich shares her step-by-step tutorials for creating the perfect TSA trash can aesthetic with her followers
Author of How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip, Hitha Palepu, told the New York Times that the trend was one of her “biggest pet peeves.” Palepu said the trend is thoughtless to fellow travelers and TSA personnel, stressful and just plain “gross.”
Commentators expressed concern that TSA security would never take the time to do this anyway and feared they would be yelled at.
Other influencers and users suggested waiting until after the TSA security checkpoint before setting down the trays and taking photos.
One commenter shared his stressful experiences going through security without following the trend: “The TSA agents in Newark made me cry because I couldn’t empty my trash fast enough.”
Another said, “The TSA would throw everything in my trash if I tried this. Lol”
However, a TSA spokesperson said Next star: As long as staged glamour photos don’t cause delays or problems with other passengers at the checkpoint, there’s no problem.
‘Travellers should ensure that they keep their ID, passport and any light items lying on top safely as these items may be swept out of the bins as they pass through the machine,’ he added.
