A Gen Z New Yorker has shared his thoughts on the decline of club culture.
In a video on TikTok, 26-year-old creative Demetrius Fields sparked discussion when he said that cameras have ruined nightlife spaces.
Fields challenged the notion that Gen Z avoids clubs because of social anxiety and generational shifts. Instead, he argued that the real issue is the ever-present threat of being recorded and ridiculed online.
In the video, he quoted the idea that “Gen Z killed club culture,” but doesn’t agree. He described how clubgoers no longer feel free to let loose because of the fear that someone will capture an unflattering moment and share it across social media platforms, turning them into viral memes or GIFs.
“Cameras killed the club. If you go to the club and dance for more than three seconds, a circle of strangers will form around you like Lord of the Flies,” Fields said in the video. “And they’re all gonna pull out their flash and put it on you… Either way, they gonna post your [expletive] on Twitter and they’re gonna roast you.”
Fields explained that such behavior has created a “social media anxiety” in young people, clubs less appealing for fear of public scrutiny online.
@demetriusfields/TikTok
The Cost of Clubbing
Social media isn’t the only thing putting young people off clubs, though.
“It hasn’t stopped me from going to a club on its own but it’s definitely a huge factor,” Fields told Newsweek. “How are we supposed to loosen up with the constant looming threat that someone is going to start recording at any moment?”
But beyond social media, there are other significant deterrents, like the the high cost of nightlife.
“A night at the club is like a $150+ event. You need to pay $30 for a cover, $50+ if the DJ is actually good, $15 for every poorly made drink, double that if you have a date, AND if you want to be responsible and not drive, the Uber is like 70 bucks to go anywhere,” Fields said.
He said that this financial burden has made staying in a more appealing alternative.
“Why would I do all of that when I can spend 10 bucks on snacks and binge watch The Sopranos from the privacy and comfort of my overpriced apartment? You feel me?” he said.
Fields’ perspective is backed by recent research. A 2022 survey by Keep Hush, which included 1,165 respondents from both Gen Z and millennial generations, found that Gen Z is going out less than previous generations. The survey revealed that 25 percent of Gen Z were still interested in clubbing and just 13 percent of millennials. The overarching trend showed both generations expressing a declining interest in nightlife, citing reasons such as financial constraints and a preference for staying in.
Similarly, a survey conducted by Obsurvant on behalf of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) found that 61 percent of 2,001 U.K. residents aged 18-30 reported going out less frequently than the previous year. Only 16 percent said they go out past 10 p.m. more often than they did in 2024. The leading factor? Rising costs, which have made clubbing an increasingly unaffordable luxury.
Should Phones Be Banned in Clubs?
The debate over phones and cameras in nightlife spaces is ongoing.
“When you dance and someone records, the whole world might be watching you,” said one TikToker in response to Fields’ video.
Another wrote: “American clubs need to start putting stickers over cameras like European ones do.”
Anti-phone policies are being increasingly used in some nightlife spaces. Some venues, such as London’s fabric, encourage a phone-free environment through guidance rather than strict enforcement. Berghain in Berlin place stickers over phone cameras to prevent recording. Other clubs have implemented tools like Yondr pouches, which lock away phones until the user enters a designated phone-use area.
While this spirit of phone-free club culture is often praised, there are arguments for phones to be a part of a modern night out, particularly for the sake of safety.
Whatever the reasons for a decline in club-going, Fields’ TikTok video sparked a wave of nostalgia and longing for a time when nightlife was more affordable and less likely to be recorded.
“I just want to go to the club and party like its 2008,” said one viewer.
Another said: “Everyone is so worried about being cringe. I wish y’all could just have fun and not worry like we used to.”