The Mythical Appeal of the American Dream: Life Through the Eyes of US TikTokers Abroad
Escape to a world of freedom and luxury Discover the allure of an American abroad, indulging in blissful pleasures like paid vacations, weekday wine lunches, and no tipping Join social media's obsession with the enviable lifestyles of US influencers living overseas
Enjoy a month's worth of paid vacation time, have wine for lunch on a Tuesday, and no tipping necessary. In Kacie Rose Burns' popular video, she discusses the major culture shocks she has encountered after moving from the US to Italy.
Burns TikTok - viewed 19.8 million times - is flooded with comments ranging from disbelief, envy and approval.
Theres one comment - liked 34,800 times - that maybe sums it all up:
"I think the American dream is to leave America."
That American girl living in Italy
Burns' social media accounts document her life as an American living in Italy, as stated in her TikTok bio. She shares insights into cultural contrasts, provides travel tips for Italian cities, and shares personal stories directly to the camera.
In 2021, the 30-year-old began sharing her experiences on TikTok after moving to Florence with her Italian boyfriend, whom she met while on vacation a few years prior.
International travel was not an option in early 2021, but Burns' videos became popular due to her combination of escapist content, wish fulfillment fantasy, and humorous yet insightful perspectives on the realities of relocating to another country.
Fast forward to the present, Burns now has 1 million TikTok followers. Fans recognize her on the street and interact with her as if they are acquainted. She has turned her success into a brand, including ebooks and group tours. Documenting her life in Italy has become her primary occupation.
Former New York dancer Burns stumbled into her career as an influencer, and the success has caught her off guard. However, she is not the only one. With TikTok's rise and Instagram's addition of short-form video content like Instagram Reels, American influencers have become a ubiquitous presence.
Regardless of your algorithm, if you're active on these platforms, chances are you've come across a video or two like this. Perhaps an influencer strolling through a UK grocery store, remarking on the peculiarity of British stores not refrigerating eggs, or someone documenting their efforts to learn French while in Paris, or showcasing the stunning views from their red-roofed apartment in Lisbon. I love seeing the contrasts between our country and the places these influencers are in, and daydreaming about what it would be like to live there.
Elizabeth Staub, a 31-year-old American social media user, finds watching TikTokers who have moved abroad appealing because their content provides an "easy daydream" or "escape."
"It's a fantasy that's 'kind of attainable,' as Staub describes it to CNN Travel. While these individuals may seem to live a life straight out of a Netflix romantic comedy, they are real people. Staub finds it easy to put herself in their shoes, if only for the few minutes it takes to watch one of their videos. "I enjoy seeing the differences between our country and where these influencers are, and romanticizing what it would be like to live there," Staub explains.
Boston-based social media user Erin Conry, 26, admits to following people who reside in her dream locations. She describes the experience of seeing aesthetically appealing travel videos as a dopamine hit. Through their content, American expats living abroad allow TikTok users to virtually live the dream alongside them.
She went on a solo trip to Italy. Right away she met the love of her life
The viral appeal of the little things
American Quentin Pettiford posts about his life living in Norway.
Quentin(Tik Tok MoneyTimeQ)
Many of the most popular videos from US content creators abroad hinge on the little details.
Quentin Pettiford's social media presence is a hit. At 24, he made the move from the US to Norway in 2021, falling in love with a European just like Burns. People can't get enough of his transatlantic love story, but according to his TikTok stats, they're more interested in hearing about the differences between Norwegian and American grocery stores.
Pettiford understands the fascination. The first time he strolled through the aisles of a Norwegian grocery store, he was captivated. His Norwegian partner found the experience mundane - even boring - but for Pettiford, the store was a goldmine of intriguing cultural distinctions.
The bread slicers puzzled him, something completely new to him in an American grocery store. It didn't take long for him to discover that in Norway, you have to scan your receipt to exit certain stores. "Everything about grocery shopping in Norway is just incredibly different," Pettiford tells CNN Travel.
Quentin Pettiford's first viral TikTok video was about the differences between American and Norwegian grocery stores.
Quentin, also known as MoneyTimeQ on TikTok, wasted no time in filming and posting clips on his account. "I had a feeling that my content would catch the attention of the right people and go viral," he said.
One day, Pettiford opened the TikTok app to find thousands of comments, views, and followers. "My first viral video got two million views in just a couple of weeks," he said. "I decided not to let this opportunity slip by."
Pettiford enthusiastically embraced content creation, blending humorous observations about cultural differences with snapshots of his everyday family life with his Norwegian wife and young daughter.
According to Pettiford, his followers appreciate his family content, but his most popular video is surprisingly impersonal - it's a discussion about the use of Fahrenheit in America versus Celsius in the rest of the world.
Pettiford expressed his disbelief at the fact that it received around 8 million views. He mentioned that simple things like that tend to drive people crazy, so he takes note of what sets it apart, writes it down, and discusses it to see if it becomes viral.
The American abroad in pop culture
American content creator Fatima chronicles her adventures in Paris on her TikTok account.
TheQueenFatima
Burns and Pettiford began posting during the pandemic, partially due to having more free time and partly because of their recent move abroad. However, Fatima, an American content creator in her thirties, had been living in Paris for several years before she started publicly sharing about her life on TikTok in early 2021.
Like her fellow former dancer Burns, Fatima was also involved in the performing arts industry before 2020. When Covid hit, she turned to social media as a "different way to be creative."
For personal reasons, Fatima has requested that her last name not be included in this article. She was motivated to start posting publicly after watching the Netflix hit "Emily in Paris." The popular TV show follows a fictional American social media influencer who moves to a romanticized version of Paris, captivating locked-down viewers when it premiered on Netflix in late 2020.
Fatima enjoyed watching "Emily in Paris," but the show's success also inspired her to portray a more realistic view of the "American in Paris" story. This trope, which she acknowledges is not new, extends beyond Paris and predates the 21st century. For example, she recalls watching the 2014 Broadway musical "An American in Paris," based on the 1950s movie, just before she moved to France. The pop culture trope of an American moving to Europe and living a charmed life also goes beyond Paris and dates back to films like 1954's Rome-set "Three Coins in the Fountain."
The 2003 "Lizzie McGuire Movie" was a turning point for millennial Fatima, sparking dreams of moving to Europe. "That movie is very iconic and important to me," she says. "When I finally visited Italy and stood in front of the Trevi Fountain, I couldn't stop talking about it. And, unbelievably, within five minutes of arriving, another American was also talking about the same movie."
Fatima, pictured here in front of the Mona Lisa, presents an aspirational-yet-real view of living in Paris.
TheQueenFatima
Fatima points out that most of these movies and TV shows depict "White women of a certain socio-economic background moving to Europe to pursue their Eat, Pray, Love lifestyle."
Fatima recognized that her TikTok platform was a chance to expand the dominant pop culture narrative. "Being a Black American in Paris significantly influences how I navigate life in this country," she explains.
Fatima's pinned TikTok video captures her strolling through the charming streets of Paris while speaking to her audience. She promises to provide a range of details, information, tips, tricks, and silly stories from her experiences living in Paris. In addition, she references the pop culture trope of Americans living abroad, using the moniker "Fatima in Paris" and soundtracking the video with the "Sex and the City" theme music as a nod to the series' portrayal of starting over in the City of Light.
, according to Fatima. "I strive to create content that is enjoyable and captivating for both myself and the audience who may be interested in it."
Fatima, TikTok influencer
For Fatima, social media has also turned out to be an alternative revenue stream - although she doesnt make a full time living off her content, she does make a profit.
She explains to CNN Travel that in 2023, after taxes, she earned enough to cover two months of rent and utilities. Kacie Rose Burns also earns money from occasional branded content on her social media, but she considers her social media presence a full-time career after starting group tours in Italy and launching her business.
Burns also steers clear of branded content that she believes won't connect with her followers. Both Burns and Fatima prioritize authenticity in their content. For instance, while Fatima's content typically features a glamorous vibe, she emphasizes to CNN that living in Paris is not the idealistic utopia that many people perceive it to be.
"I am completely aware and fully conscious of that. Every so often, I address those topics on my platforms and discuss the challenges of living in this country," she states.
Burns, who, like Fatima, is also familiar with the pop culture references she uses, strives to find a balance in her content.
"It's important to paint a positive picture of your life, finding beauty in it," Burns emphasizes. "However, it's equally crucial to acknowledge the challenges, as life in Italy is not all sunshine and rainbows. It's not the same as what's portrayed in Lizzie McGuire, Under the Tuscan Sun, or Eat, Pray, Love. There are real difficulties to face and enduring feelings of homesickness that never completely fade away."
Experiencing life as an American in Paris
Beyond Europe
American Ananya Donapati posts about her life in Japan.
Ananya Donapati
Many popular social media accounts showcase the experiences of Americans in Europe, but there are also accounts that document "fish out of water" adventures around the world. Ananya Donapati's TikTok account, for instance, offers a glimpse into her life as an American in Japan.
A 23-year-old Californian, Ananya fulfilled her long-held dream of moving to Japan, which began when she first discovered manga comics and began learning Japanese in her early teens.
When the pandemic struck, Donapati nearly abandoned her dream, believing it was unattainable. However, the founder of a Japanese fintech startup discovered Donapati's popular Twitter account and contacted her, offering her a marketing position.
Earlier this year, Donapati left the US for Tokyo. Despite her prominence on Twitter, now known as X, Donapati hadn't considered creating TikToks about her new life until she noticed other Americans doing so.
Donapati regularly shares amusing observations and Tokyo guides on her account @hiananyaa. According to Donapati, her goal is to showcase the beauty of Japan as seen through her eyes and her content.
Ananya grew up watching content creators, so becoming one herself was a natural conclusion.
Ananya Donapati
Donapati had no qualms about filming herself and her experiences, shes Gen Z and grew up watching YouTubers. To her, the whole thing seemed "kind of natural."
"Donapati has always had a passion for creating content," he says. "And I've noticed that many people my age share the same desire."
Donapati appreciates the creativity that arises from the restrictions of the platform - videos must be brief and engaging in order to captivate the attention of a scrolling, time-strapped social media user who craves "fresh content and entertainment," as Donapati describes it.
The more authentic and creative you are, the more attention and support you receive. Donapati still finds solace in watching content created by other Americans in Japan, as it reflects her own experiences and helps her navigate life abroad.
She emphasizes the importance of mutual support and seeking advice, stating, "I believe the content creation that everyone is engaged in is an extension of our reliance on each other." Donapati also appreciates watching American content creators who share glimpses of their life from different parts of the world.
Donapati is appealing to Donapati because it feels "really authentic."
"I enjoy watching someone in Europe and experiencing their day-to-day life," she explains. "I often watch videos like that because it's a great way to feel like I'm there without actually being there."
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Americans abroad
Not only American content creators share their experiences abroad on social media. Donapati also follows Japanese content creators living in the US, while Fatima enjoys content created by Europeans who have relocated to the US, as it reminds her of her time in New York.
The abundance of Americans sharing their experiences abroad indicates that this is a particularly popular trend in the US.
American social media user Elizabeth Staub suggests that life abroad is becoming increasingly appealing to Americans due to the challenges related to healthcare, affordability, and the lack of communal spaces in the country. Additionally, she notes that the difficulties associated with international travel in the US persisted even after pandemic travel restrictions were lifted.
"We lack federal paid time off, making it difficult for people to take time off work. Flying is unaffordable, with the cost of a flight to Europe in the thousands of dollars - it's simply too expensive," she explains. "For many people, it's just not feasible."
Burns proposes that there is a stereotype suggesting that Americans are not interested in traveling abroad. However, many people, particularly younger Americans, "are eager to travel, but they may not have the financial means to do so."
"She says they travel through their phone," she says. "It's easy to find Americans traveling abroad on TikTok, and then they're able to experience it through someone who has a similar background."
Social media user Erin Conry echoes her words.
"She commented on how the Americans abroad she follows are living out her dream. The content she enjoys is both informative and insightful, providing a great escape. She finds it cool that people have the confidence to lead such a life."
