Hey fellow readers,Ā
Itās me, Kaitlyn, a freelance Gen-Z journalist trying to make sense of the world. I engage in much observational thinking (my parents would tell you Iām just a daydreamer)- but my generation would label me a āthought daughterā, described by parents.com as:
Ā āāthought daughtersā are more introspective, intellectual in their pursuits, and devout over-thinkers.ā
So, in saying that, Iām back with the third part of my four-part series where I take a dive into the subject of modern nightlife and wellness, so as always, if you're a fellow observer and thinker with an appetite for long-form writing, please, join me!
The North East is famous for its wild nightlife reputation, so I spoke to Alice Theakston; a local university student and bar supervisor at The Library in Durham city centre, a popular venue that attracts a large volume of students.Ā
I queried about Durham's drop in nightlife revenue over the last few years, she responded:
āI think this is almost certainly the cost-of-living crisis. When basic necessities are already difficult to afford I assume people decide not to allocate money to drinking and going out. I think social media has also been pushing a self care movement so young people are perhaps less interested in clubbing.ā
I asked if in her opinion, the wellness movement on social media has had an impact on the way people experience the traditional night out, Alice told me:
ā100%. I think a lot of people, with an emphasis on women, are more interested in health than previous generations and therefore drink less. Social media has played a huge role in reshaping how we think about health and lifestyle, and that influence has definitely extended into the way people socializeā¦
The traditional "night out" used to be synonymous with heavy drinking, late nights, and indulgence. Now, there's a growing shift toward more mindful experiencesāthings like alcohol-free events, wellness pop-ups, or social gatherings centred around activities like yoga, breathwork, or even cold plunges.Ā
For many, especially women, there's been a real cultural shift. Wellness influencers and online communities have normalised things like skipping alcohol, prioritising sleep, and choosing experiences that align with mental and physical well-being.ā
Aliceās perspective shines a light on the influence that social media has on society, especially for women. Her ideas align with findings from my survey too. When asked if TikTok and other social media trends influence what activities people fill their free time with, 59.6% of respondents admitted that TikTok does, in some way, influence their activities.Ā
The nightlife industry appeared to have taken its first beating during the COVID-19 lockdowns, as many businesses also did. In my survey I asked participants If they believe there has been a shift in attitude towards party and rave-like cultures since the pandemic. 57.1% voted that they had seen a shift, and left some insightful comments when asked why they voted that way:
- I think it has become trendy on TikTok to have self-care rituals on typically party nights like a Friday and a Saturday or a bank holiday. People are calling it protecting their peace. When I was a bit younger, it was expected of you to go out and document the best night ever, so that all your mates could see it but now itās cool to document your wellness routines for the world to see. I donāt know if itās a trend people are following or whether it is full of change and people are gonna stop clubbing altogether.
- Iām not sure, but it could be due to the fact that people my age, including myself, got so used to being indoors and not socialising with people during the lockdowns. Iāve noticed that a lot of people my age (21), who basically did all of sixth form in lockdown, are socially anxious. This may be due to social media but nevertheless, I think COVID has definitely had a lasting impact on my generation- whatever that impact may be.
- Look, I, rightly or wrongly, sometimes miss lockdown. I miss how relaxing it was to work from home, not having to dedicate money to Friday nights out, I saved up soooo much money. It gave people a chance to discover who they are as it was a lot of time you had to spend with yourself. I think this generation of youngins are opening their eyes to the overhype of alcohol indulgence, I truly believe going out and getting wrecked on drugs/drink is frankly, self harm!! Protect your spirit! Not just your body.
One particular opinion that stood out to me was: āI think people are becoming more desensitised to drug use and it is becoming more commonā, which arguably sits in tandem with Dr Karenza Moores observations about young people using drugs to ease anxiety when socialising, especially as drink and party culture is so substantial socially.Ā
So, Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, do you have your verdict yet?
Before you make up your mind, head to part 4.
Logging off,
Kaitlyn.
Ā