DNYUZ
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Television
    • Theater
    • Gaming
    • Sports
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
DNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
Home News World Europe

US Woman Responds as Video Labeling Europe ‘Not First World’ Sparks Debate

August 6, 2025
in Europe, News, World
US Woman Responds as Video Labeling Europe ‘Not First World’ Sparks Debate
498
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A travel content creator from Florida has gone viral responding to a post from another TikToker arguing that parts of Italy should not be considered “first world.”

Bailey, who posts under the handle @bulletproofbailey, shared the original video after spending time in Umbria and Sardinia—regions in central and southern Italy—arguing that the lack of air conditioning, dishwashers, and bathtubs made the country feel “third world.” She has since told Newsweek that the video was intended as satire, but many viewers appeared to take it at face value.

One such viewer was Nina Ragusa, 40, known as @whereintheworldisnina on TikTok, who stitched the video to challenge the claims. Her rebuttal garnered 80,900 likes and over 1.2 million views.

Ragusa, who has spent more than 14 years living abroad, told Newsweek that she was surprised to hear Bailey described the video as satirical, as to her the tone seemed sincere, and she felt it played into stereotypes rather than mocking them.

“That said, I do think it opened up a bigger conversation about how people see other countries and how Americans are seen, too. That’s why I felt it was worth responding with facts and a little perspective,” she told Newsweek.

“It was funny, but also kind of frustrating to hear someone speak so confidently while being so misinformed. I felt like someone needed to inject some actual facts into the conversation,” she said.

Bailey told Newsweek that she used hyperbole and American stereotypes to spark a little controversy and commentary, not to make headlines.

“The fact that it turned into a viral discourse and then got picked up by mainstream media says more about the current state of journalism than it does about my exaggerated travel opinions,” she said. “It was never meant to be that serious.”

Ragusa wanted to provide a counterpoint to similar views

Since 2011, Ragusa has been traveling and living abroad. She said this controversy speaks to a deeper topic she cares about: encouraging people to question what “quality of life” really means.

While she still values her American roots, she believes it’s essential to challenge assumptions that place the U.S. at the center of what a successful or advanced life looks like.

Ragusa said that the views Bailey’s video satirized were familiar to her, and while she doesn’t encounter them often in real life, but she does online.

In her response video, she highlighted that development is more accurately measured through indicators like healthcare access, education, life expectancy, and infrastructure—not whether a vacation rental has a dishwasher.

She pointed out that amenities such as AC and dishwashers are available in Italy, but many residents simply don’t see the need for them due to cultural and climate differences.

Ragusa also addressed Bailey’s suggestion that a lack of nearby hospitals proved Italy’s underdevelopment, noting that “medical deserts” are common in both countries.

She cited data showing that many rural U.S. hospitals have shut down in recent decades, leaving large swaths of Americans with limited access to emergency care.

Bailey’s video extended beyond Italy and described Paris as “terrible” while praising Scandinavian countries like Norway and Switzerland for seemingly having their “s*** together.” Ragusa pointed out the inconsistency in praising one group of developed nations while dismissing another that shares similar systems.

Another moment from Bailey’s video that drew attention was her comment about returning to the U.S. and realizing her large American F150 truck wouldn’t fit on many Italian streets.

Ragusa used this to highlight the difference in urban planning priorities, arguing that European cities are often built for people, not cars—and that’s a positive.

Ragusa said she thinks views similar to those depicted in Bailey’s videos are particularly prevalent from people who haven’t traveled widely or researched life outside the U.S. She believes that limited global education and deeply ingrained narratives about American exceptionalism contribute to these misconceptions.

Although she’s only visited Italy briefly, Ragusa said her broader experience living across Europe, including in Portugal, made Bailey’s satirical generalizations easy to refute. “I didn’t need to visit every town to know that judging a country’s development based on the presence of AC in your Airbnb is ridiculous,” she said.

Viewers share their thoughts

The response to Ragusa’s video has been overwhelming. While the comment section quickly became chaotic, she noted that many viewers supported her take and appreciated her fact-based rebuttal. Most appeared to have taken Bailey’s video as sincere too.

“This is why Americans are not well-liked when they travel—because they are arrogant,” wrote one commenter. Another said, “She’s confusing first world with first class. Her education deficit and ignorance is showing.”

Others questioned the logic of Bailey’s criteria. “Wonder how many U.S. cities wouldn’t be classed as First World based on her standards,” asked Shane Ashton.

One user contrasted materialism with lifestyle quality: “It’s so interesting that her perception of first world is related to things she can buy… Meanwhile Umbria has 90-year-old women gossiping in the street with their besties, eating fresh food and drinking great wine.”

Some viewers were more generous towards the views expressed in the original video. One user, who goes by Allison, wrote that as temperatures increase in Southern Europe, AC should be considered a “life saving need” rather than a luxury.

What are the facts?

The video also triggered a fiery online debate about how we define global development—and what happens when personal comfort is conflated with a country’s economic or social status.

The terms “First World” and “Third World” originated during the Cold War to categorize countries aligned with Western capitalist democracies, the Soviet bloc, and non-aligned nations. Over time, they became shorthand for levels of development—with “First World” implying wealth and advancement, and “Third World” suggesting poverty and underdevelopment.

Today, many consider the terms outdated and misleading, as they oversimplify global disparities and often reinforce stereotypes. Alternatives like “Global North and South” or classifications based on income levels are now preferred in academic and policy contexts.

The Human Development Index (HDI), for example, is a summary measure used by the United Nations to assess a country’s overall level of development. It combines life expectancy, education, and income.

In 2025, both the U.S. and Italy ranked very highly on the Human Development Index. Italy scored 0.915 and the U.S. scored 0.938.

According to Liz Delia, a travel writer for Zest for Latitudes, the video reflects a broader issue among some American tourists who expect other countries to mirror U.S. standards.

She told Newsweek: “This incident reflects a broader issue among some American travelers who assume the world will mirror U.S. standards.

“In reality, many aspects of life in the U.S. are the exception, not the norm. Conflating personal comfort with global development is not just inaccurate; it shows a lack of cultural awareness,” she added.

Delia also pointed to the role of social media in amplifying performative, sensational content—even when it’s inaccurate. She noted that whether or not the original comments were sincere, viral moments like these can distort public perceptions of entire countries.

The post US Woman Responds as Video Labeling Europe ‘Not First World’ Sparks Debate appeared first on Newsweek.

Share199Tweet125Share
Tears As Autistic Boy, 6, Reunites With Family Dog Trained To Support Him
News

Tears As Autistic Boy, 6, Reunites With Family Dog Trained To Support Him

by Newsweek
August 9, 2025

A mom from Alabama captured the precious moment her son was finally reunited with his dog, following four months of ...

Read more
News

Jaxson Dart Gets Honest About Mindset Before NY Giants Debut

August 9, 2025
News

‘Arab Forces’ Running Gaza? Netanyahu’s Goal Leaves Many Questions.

August 9, 2025
News

Zelensky Rejects Ceding Land to Russia After Trump Suggests a Land Swap

August 9, 2025
News

Zelensky Rejects Trump’s Suggestion That Ukraine Should Give Up Territory to Russia in Peace Talks

August 9, 2025
Moscow warns of ‘provocations’ ahead of Putin-Trump meeting

Moscow warns of ‘provocations’ ahead of Putin-Trump meeting

August 9, 2025
Watching plastic surgery reels has me debating it for myself. I’ve started hyper-fixating on the changes in my own face.

Watching plastic surgery reels has me debating it for myself. I’ve started hyper-fixating on the changes in my own face.

August 9, 2025
Bathtub-Obsessed Dog Who Can’t Stop Splashing Wins Pet of the Week

Bathtub-Obsessed Dog Who Can’t Stop Splashing Wins Pet of the Week

August 9, 2025

Copyright © 2025.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel

Copyright © 2025.