Party’s Over People

In the 80s and 90s, the nightclub was basically Electric Avenue, you went there to rock down to it, and maybe even take it higher. You didn’t text someone; you yelled over Come On Eileen, and half the time, they couldn’t hear you.

Now? Across the U.S. and Europe, the dance floors are vanishing faster than Nickelback’s rock cred. Legendary spots in New York, London, and Paris are shutting down. 31% of U.K. clubs between 2020 and 2023 have taken down the mirrored ball and closed their doors forever, according to the Night Time Industries Association. Los Angeles? A 20% drop since 2019. And the culprit? Gen Z and younger Millennials, who’d rather crank “Don’t Stop Believin’” in their bedrooms than risk sweaty eye contact and the anxiety of having to actually talk to a stranger.

A 2024 YouGov survey found only 28% of 18 to 34-year-olds hit nightlife spots regularly, compared to 54% of older generations who were Footloose on the dance floor. Loneliness is on the rise. 61% of Gen Z reported it to be a serious issue in 2021. Fifteen percent of young men and ten percent of young women have no close friends. That’s not just sad, that’s All By Myself, literally!

You can blame dating apps, remote work, or the unbelievable comfort of pajama pants. Sure, it’s easier to swipe than to shout a pickup line over Safety Dance, but when the last club closes, so does a whole era. Without crowded rooms, bad lighting, and the collective roar when the DJ drops Rock Me Amadeus, we will all be Dancing In The Dark.

Doug O’Brien