It seems no part of the travel experience is off-limits for the social media-savvy, as a surprising new trend is taking over TikTok—snapping aesthetic photos of TSA security trays.
What started as an artistic expression has now sparked frustration among fellow travelers and airport workers.
The Trend: Styling Your TSA Tray
The trend involves carefully arranging your personal items in a TSA security tray and taking a perfectly styled overhead photo before it goes through the X-ray scanner.
From sunglasses and shoes to jewelry and bags, everything is meticulously placed to create a visually appealing image.
How It All Began
Piper Taich, a graphic designer and TikTok influencer, is credited with popularizing this trend after she posted photos of her own TSA tray setups.
Taich’s stylish shots have inspired many to try it themselves, sparking a wave of similar posts across social media.
However, what some view as an artistic moment, others see as a major inconvenience.
Travelers Aren’t Pleased
While these photos may be aesthetically pleasing, not everyone is thrilled with the trend, especially fellow passengers waiting in airport security lines.
One traveler working at LAX shared their frustration, saying, “We’re just trying to get to work, and you’re in our way.”
Others voiced similar complaints, pointing out that airport security is already stressful enough without adding staged photoshoots into the mix.
The Debate Heats Up
To address some of the criticism, several TikTok creators clarified that their photos were staged at home using TSA tray lookalikes, avoiding disruption at real airports.
Piper Taich herself takes her artistic shots at home, using a fake plane ticket and a replica TSA tray she purchased.
Taich has defended the trend, explaining that it’s all about fun and creative expression, saying, “The point is that it’s fun and it’s art.”
From Home to the Airport
Despite some influencers opting to stage their shoots at home, others have started recreating the trend at actual airports, leading to even more frustration from travelers and airport staff.
Hitha Palepu, author of How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip, expressed her disapproval, calling the trend inconsiderate and stressful for everyone involved.
TSA’s Official Take
Surprisingly, the TSA doesn’t seem too bothered by the trend—so long as it doesn’t cause delays.
A TSA spokesperson shared that as long as travelers aren’t holding up the line or causing issues for other passengers, there’s no problem with taking photos.
They did, however, remind travelers to secure their IDs and lighter items to avoid anything falling out of the trays during the X-ray process.
Is This Just the Beginning?
As the trend continues to spread, it raises the question of what other everyday moments will become the next viral photo opportunity.
While some love the creativity, others are left hoping this TSA tray trend will eventually fade out.
For now, it’s just another example of how social media can turn even the most mundane parts of life into a spectacle.
TDPel Media
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!