A new way to party
When social media became a place where fame could be easily attained, people started to think about what to do to gain this fame. Fitness became the ideal choice: go to the gym, record your workout and show it to people on social media, very easy. A lot of people became famous and started the wave of fitness social influencers. Everyone wanted to be a fitness influencer or follow them because their tips on a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing made people engage with their content.
During the COVID pandemic, the fitness boom began with Joe Wicks posting workouts on YouTube every morning with children, and Simeon Panda telling young people to train like him without PEDs. The fitness boom on social media enabled many people to build wealth and establish their name. The boom also created a societal problem where people were constantly judged for not looking good, and the idea of fat shaming became more common among young people. Some people embraced exercise by watching videos on social media to improve at weight training, and this increased the number of gym goers and also created a culture of gym motivation.
Although the gym has always been a place where people go to release stress and stay healthy, it is becoming more than that. A lot of people have turned to the gym for social support and connection. Networking takes place in the gym, where people meet and discuss business or meet people who can help them with their careers. For millennials and Gen Z, the gym has become the new nightlife.
A Friday night is no longer about going to get your hair done, going shopping, getting a new outfit and having drinks for a night out. It is now about writing a workout plan, getting pre-workout ready and seeing which friends want to go to the gym. A weekend evening at the gym is like a nightclub, where people are socialising, lifting weights, networking and even couples showing affection.
The gym is also where single people go and talk to others to get their number or ask them on a date. And let’s not forget the dance floor; at the gym, there is no dance floor, but people celebrate after each set because they are happy that they have completed a tough session. We should not dismiss that the gym has become a place where people meet and network, but it has also become part of the social nightlife for millennials and Gen Z.
