Has social media killed clubbing?

man don’t dance (though man would secretly like to)

A recent study has found that almost half of all Gen Zers say they ‘skip dancing’ to avoid being filmed and posted online without their consent. Have TikTok, online virality, and the normalising of filming strangers in public ruined our spontaneity?

Do you ever hit the dance floor at the club? Or are you more inclined to sit on the sidelines, vodka-coke in hand?

Throwing a few shapes and embarrassing yourself used to be a rite of passage for university students and clubgoers of the noughties and early 2010s, but it seems Gen Z are far less likely to let loose in 2026, primarily out of fear of being secretly recorded and posted online without their consent. Think Instagram and TikTok, where clips of drunk party people often go viral, whether it be via street interviews or filming from the rooftops above clubs (yes, that last one is real).

A new study by LifeStance Health has found that 49% of Gen Z skip dancing in social settings for fear of ‘becoming someone else’s social media content.’ Nearly 3 in 4 in this age bracket said their concerns about being recorded ‘affect their ability to enjoy the present moment,’ with 72% also reporting that it lowers their ‘desire to leave the house or attend an event.’ Fear of being viral reduces their enthusiasm for self-expression and social participation, too.

Data from YPulse earlier this year also backs this up. 57% of teens and 48% of young adults said they ‘worry about being cringey because someone might be filming them.’ The company notes that big artists like Tyler, The Creator have noticed the steadily declining enthusiasm for dancing at concerts, describing it as a ‘ghost’ of expression compared to even a decade ago.

The numbers make it clear that the constant, subconscious threat of being filmed is having a significant, negative impact on Gen Z. This heightened self-awareness is far beyond previous generations and also likely explains why some young people avoid alcohol, fixate on ‘looksmaxxing,’ and hesitate to put themselves into uncomfortable social situations.

Behaviour outside of clubbing has also been affected. LifeStance Health’s research found that 43% of Gen Z hold back their emotions, 38% avoid ‘acting silly or telling a joke,’ and more than 40% said social media affects their confidence, sleep, and anxiety levels.

What are venues doing in response? Nightclubs are beginning to offer phone-free evenings and no-photo policies that protect clubgoers’ privacy and encourage self-expression. Fabric, a club in London, is one such example.

‘Over the years, as the prevalence of smartphones and social media grew and grew, with new platforms like TikTok completely uprooting our understanding of social media, we also began to notice how photography in the club was impacting the dancefloor,’ the venue’s policy page reads. ‘We saw more club-goers with phones in the air and flashes on in the club… we thought it was about time to try and strip it back to basics.’

Other clubs, like The Warehouse Project, have introduced camera-covering stickers. Amber’s in Manchester similarly has a no-phone policy, as do the Moon Club in Bristol and Lost in Soho, London. Venues are acknowledging that phones and social media have eroded the opportunities for in-person interaction and conversation, causing a stronger pushback that could help curb the rather depressing data on current Gen Z behaviour.

Gigs and high-profile concerts are also trying out phone-free experiences, with artists like Bob Dylan and Jack White giving out pouches that lock devices away until the experience is over. Phoebe Bridgers announced phone-free concerts this year, too, though this approach has faced criticism as it prevents people from being contactable during emergencies.

Keeping phones away from public events hasn’t been as popular as the numbers would suggest, either. Many people love to film gigs and concerts (even though, let’s be honest, most of us barely ever watch them back), and having contact with close family is important to some. There’s also the question of personal preference, considering that most will be paying customers and ticketgoers.

Is it too overbearing of venues to dictate how people manage their personal items?

Still, whichever way you may see it, something clearly needs to change if we want Gen Zers feeling more comfortable out of their shell. Live spaces should be for expression, silliness, and spontaneity, all of which are significantly eroded by the looming presence of social media and online scrutiny.

See also:

• Is Gen Z bringing back the office cubicle?
• Gen Z has no era-defining sitcoms. Why?
• Have phone screens ruined Gen Z romance?