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The woman shared that after visiting multiple states in India, she noticed that she was more comfortable using her phone in public or crowded places compared to London.
She was seen using her phone as she walked carelessly on the streets of India (Photo: Instagram/@discoverwithemma_)
For years, India has been the subject of online discussions about traveler safety, with many foreigners describing it as a destination that requires extra caution. But the experience of a female traveler turned this story upside down. After traveling across multiple states, she said she felt more comfortable using her phone in public in India than she did in London.
Digital creator Emma said her trip through states including Kerala and Meghalaya challenged the negative perceptions she had heard about India before her visit. “It’s controversial… but I actually felt less stressed about my phone in India than I do in London,” she wrote in her Instagram post.
“I didn’t have that constant feeling of ‘watch your stuff.’”
She appeared in the clip wandering the streets of India while using her phone, recording video clips for her blogs, not caring about who passed by her. The text read: “I’m carrying my phone in India.” The video then cut to her in London, where she is seen carefully placing her phone in her wallet before placing it in her hand for safekeeping.
“Travelling around places like Kerala, Varkala, Guwahati and Meghalaya completely challenges the narrative I had always heard before visiting,” she wrote. “I was filming freely, walking around with my phone out, and I never had that constant feeling of ‘watch your stuff’ in the back of my mind.”
She compared that experience to daily life in London, where she said concerns about phone theft were more prominent. “Meanwhile, in London? My phone is glued to my hand,” she explained.
She continued: “Obviously every place has its risks, and this was just my personal experience. I’m not saying you shouldn’t be careful anywhere. But it’s a reminder that the internet doesn’t always tell the full story.”
The Internet is divided over her stance: “Is this sarcasm?”
Her post quickly gained huge attention on social media, as users chimed in to compare and share their own travel experiences. While many agreed that they felt safe using their phones in several parts of India, others noted that safety can vary from city to city.
“So true… even watches aren’t safe in the UK,” one user said.
“Thanks for making this video. Europe these days feels more unsafe than India in case of theft,” one person said.
Another person stated, “Same thing! For Paris! No offense, people are nice, but these are illegal immigrants. I went to Paris last year; I was registering myself, and then a local French guy warned me not to do it, as there was a high possibility of being robbed!”
“The problem in India is these scams, not this kind of petty theft, because almost all of them have really good phones,” another person shared.
Meanwhile, one individual asked: Is this sarcasm??
One user commented, “Very common!! One of my friends was walking on the road while talking to his family.. It was stolen when it was very close to his ear in Gurgaon.. We even never carry handbags or mobile phones on the roadside, we carry it in the opposite direction. This is just for engagement.”
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