{"id":71697,"date":"2024-02-15T00:10:12","date_gmt":"2024-02-15T05:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=71697"},"modified":"2024-02-15T00:10:12","modified_gmt":"2024-02-15T05:10:12","slug":"why-banning-gym-selfies-could-do-us-all-a-lot-of-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/why-banning-gym-selfies-could-do-us-all-a-lot-of-good\/","title":{"rendered":"Why banning gym selfies could do us all a lot of good"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Taking selfies to document daily life is now a completely\u00a0normalised activity<\/a>\u00a0across all\u00a0ages and demographics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At the same time, however, selfies are often\u00a0maligned<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 particularly in specific contexts such as at places of worship, sacred sites, or when animals are\u00a0made unwitting participants<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to see why taking selfies could be considered inappropriate in such cases. But there\u2019s been much debate about their acceptability in a more casual and frequented arena: the gym.<\/p>\n

Lately, gyms the world over have been pushing back against selfies and influencer-culture taking over their spaces,\u00a0citing<\/a>\u00a0a risk of injury to patrons, among other concerns.<\/p>\n

When considered alongside a rise in toxic influencer culture and widespread body-image insecurity, it could be argued banning gym selfies is a positive step.<\/p>\n

Self-obsession in the digital age<\/strong><\/h4>\n

People\u2019s obsession with their own image is ancient. One of the most famous Greek myths is that of\u00a0Narcissus<\/a>, who gave us the word \u201cnarcissist\u201d.<\/p>\n

This is the tale of a young man captivated by his own image. Like many Greek myths, the story was meant to serve as a lesson for immoral behaviour.<\/p>\n

Yet research shows narcissism is not only\u00a0very prevalent<\/a>\u00a0in the modern age, in many cases it\u2019s lucratively rewarded. This explains the rise of social media\u00a0influencing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The potential rewards of \u201cinfluencer-level\u201d fame push many people to take risks for social media content. This can sometimes lead to injury\u00a0or even death<\/a>, to the point that it\u2019s now considered a\u00a0public health problem<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Various\u00a0travel destinations<\/a>\u00a0are banning\u00a0tourists from taking selfies<\/a>\u00a0in popular spots to reduce issues of safety and overcrowding.<\/p>\n

Gyms push back against selfies<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Gym selfies<\/a>\u00a0can be tied particularly closely to influencer culture. They have a long history on Instagram, the platform that gave birth to\u00a0fitness influencers<\/a>. Influencers posting gym selfies will typically gain a lot of views and likes, and in some cases may attract mass followings.<\/p>\n

A popular gym chain in Melbourne recently complained of influencers engaging in \u201centitled and selfish behaviour<\/a>\u201d that \u201cshould not be tolerated\u201d. Much of this has stemmed from these patrons seemingly concentrating more on generating social media content than their\u00a0actual performance in the gym<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This\u00a0particular gym<\/a>\u00a0is now giving members the option to buy a \u201cmedia pass\u201d if they wish to take photos while working out. The rules primarily target influencers who film their workouts, rather than regular gym-goers who exercise for themselves.<\/p>\n

Other chains around the world have also banned\u00a0the use of tripods<\/a>, which could be considered a tripping hazard. Some have prohibited taking\u00a0photos or videos<\/a>\u00a0on gym premises altogether.<\/p>\n

These establishments often cite safety and\u00a0privacy concerns<\/a>. For instance, we\u2019ve seen several examples of\u00a0regular gym-goers<\/a>, often filmed without their consent, fall on the receiving end of abuse or\u00a0public shaming<\/a>\u00a0when they\u2019ve ended up in gym selfies or videos posted online.<\/p>\n

Research shows gym selfies can also influence people\u2019s\u00a0motivations for exercising<\/a>. Study participants reported becoming more conscious of their own bodies when they saw gym selfies online.<\/p>\n

Self-care in the social media age<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Banning selfies and influencer behaviour at gyms marks a shift away from the previous encouragement of self-promotional and\u00a0performative behaviour<\/a>\u00a0that many gyms became\u00a0famous for on Instagram<\/a>. It suggests people are beginning to acknowledge the detrimental aspects of such anti-social exhibitionism.<\/p>\n

In today\u2019s world, the line between personal and performative action is becoming increasingly blurred. And social media are a potent driver of the latter. In a sense, social media\u2019s pervasive presence in our lives has turned\u00a0many of us into marketers<\/a>\u00a0who live our lives out for public consumption.<\/p>\n

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@hoaa.hanassii<\/a>\u0110u trend \u0111i\u1ec7u nh\u1ea3y l\u00e0ng l\u00e1 :))\u266c nh\u1ea1c n\u1ec1n – 🎈\u5c31\u4e00\u773c✨ – HQ COS<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n