Eight in 10 young Brits swap boozy nights out for healthy socials

Eight in 10 young Brits now prefer to socialise through healthy activities rather than a traditional night out. A poll of 2,000 UK adults found 27% of Millennials and Gen Z say activity-led experiences help them meet new people. A quarter enjoy the sense of community these activities create, while a similar proportion (24%) added they provide the perfect excuse to explore new places.

Three in 10 (31%) now actively seeking opportunities to spend time outside several times a week. And popular social pursuits now include running and trail running (49%) and open-water swimming (28%). Others are taking part in activities such as hiking (26%), surfing or diving (13%), and climbing (13%).

The research was commissioned by Samsung to celebrate the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, built to support outdoor adventures with health tracking and rugged durability.

Annika Bizon from the tech firm said: “People are making more room for movement and adventure in their everyday lives. Our research shows that 87% of Gen Z are interested in taking on a new fitness or outdoor challenge in the next year.”

Social media is also helping fuel the trend, with almost half (48%) being introduced to new activities, clubs and outdoor communities from these platforms.

In addition, 25% discovered a new hobby or interest through organised events and challenges. In fact, 51% of Gen Z respondents have taken on a personal fitness or outdoor challenge in the past year.

As outdoor activities become an increasingly important part of social life, wearable technology is helping people prepare, track and recover with greater confidence.

A quarter (24%) use a wearable device to set goals, while 39% regularly track their progress and 27% use one to monitor performance.

Stress and energy insights (18%), sleep quality monitoring (23%) and heart rate tracking (23%) are among the features Gen Z consider most valuable when taking part in activities.

For 93% of those who enjoy water sports and diving, a wearable that can provide insights while they’re in the water is essential.

And 89% of adventurous young Brits want a watch that can withstand harsh outdoor conditions.

Annika Bizon from Samsung added: “As more people join run clubs, discover new trails or take on personal fitness goals, they want technology that helps them feel prepared, stay motivated and understand their progress.

“Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is designed to support every step of that journey, helping users better understand their performance, track their progress and explore with confidence.”