Should gyms ban selfies? Here why some say yes

It’s not uncommon for people to document their every waking move on social media these days. For some, it’s a way to connect with their friends and family, sharing their most humorous or mundane moments from dusk til dawn. 

For others, it’s their livelihood, with each image or Instagram story pushing a highly curated and calculated agenda on behalf of brand partnerships. 

Whatever the reason, we’re all more than used to scrolling through hundreds of snaps a day– breakfast spreads, sunrise strolls at 6 AM, and glowing ‘golden hour’ selfies. 

Because in today’s day and age, if something isn’t documented right there and then, it simply doesn’t happen.

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It’s the above reason that many capture and post their workouts, boasting progress in the form of tensed biceps and sucked-in stomachs. Gyms and influencer culture appear to go hand in hand, with the former fast becoming the latter’s favourite place to pose and post. 

Long ago, narcissism, vanity and an obsession over one’s physical appearance used to plague a person, interfering with their professional success and relationships. Now, these qualities seem to propel individuals into the spotlight, where they are rewarded and praised. 

An entire generation of young children– who decades ago might have wanted to pursue a future of fulfilment and financial stability through a career in law or medicine– now look at Instagram and TikTok’s top-followed influencers as role models.  

But in an attempt to reign in our culture of self-obsession– that appears to be spinning out of control since the rise of social media– experts and industry professionals everywhere are calling for a ban on the common ‘gym selfie’. 

Placing the selfie under scrutiny 

Doherty’s Gym in Melbourne is no longer tolerating the (not so) humble selfie, claiming the constant posing and filming by fitness influencers in their space is ‘entitled and selfish behaviour’. 

The gym, hailed by many others as, has begun offering members who insist on documenting their deadlifts the option to purchase a ‘media pass’. 

While it may seem like an extreme approach, the imposed ban on social media photography was brought about to allow regular gym-goers an opportunity to focus on their sweat sessions without the disturbing glare of a ring light.

And the annoyance of gym selfies goes beyond a person taking up mirror space. Many other fitness establishments have also placed a ban on tripods, citing the three-legged stands as a tripping hazard for other patrons. 

In addition to safety concerns, there’s also the nagging issue of privacy– or rather, the lack thereof. Every day, members of gyms are filmed inadvertently, or on purpose, without their consent or knowledge. Fitness influencers post stories, TikToks and changeroom selfies featuring background gym-goers all the time. 

The obvious effect on body image

There’s no denying the detrimental effect social media has had on our generation’s self-confidence and body image issues. Research published just last year found women experience a blow to their self-esteem and mental health after just 90 seconds of scrolling.  

The toned, tanned, and glistening body types perpetuated by successful fitness influencers– while no doubt impressive– just aren’t a realistic representation of what most people’s bodies look like. Sure, if you spend five hours a day pumping iron and chugging protein shakes, maybe it makes perfect sense to walk around like ​​Schwarzenegger in his heyday. 

But for the rest of us, who congratulate ourselves for even rocking up to the gym amidst life’s never-ending tornado of work, kids, and ironing, expecting our stomachs to resemble washboard abs in mere weeks is just not possible. 

A gym should be a place that fosters self-love and encouragement when it comes to our fitness goals, not one that feels overrun with a culture of toxic comparison and image obsession. While most establishments are yet to enforce a blanket ban on gym selfies, the benefits of such a rule are hard to overlook.