The rise of the adult sleepover: Generation Z ditch night outs (2024)

You'd be forgiven if you thought sleepovers were reserved for overexcited teenagers - but Generation Z and millennials are clearly not ready to give them up entirely.

Scroll through your TikTok and Instagram feeds and you might see groups of women aged 20 plus filming their new version of a 'night out' together.

Instead of nightclubs, glitzy dresses and high heels that make you regret wearing them in the morning, the clip is filled with social media-friendly grazing tables, painting and a living room-turned-bedroom.

That's because rather than a typical booze-filled night out, more and more young Britons are opting for adult sleepovers when spending time with their friends.

On TikTok, there's thousands of posts for girls night in and millions ofvideos with the hashtag sleepover, featuring groups of friends gathering together overnight to watch films and eat and drink.

'Adulthood is having a massive sleepover with your besties in the living room', one person explained on the social media platform as they shared a clip of their pals moving a mattress and bedding into the front room.

'A sleepover weekend with friends is just what we needed. "Painting & Pinot" during the day and a movie with snacks and hair braiding that night,' said another individual as they posted a video of their fun-filled evening.

London-based psychotherapist Caroline Plumer toldRefinery29 that 'many of us are embracing more "wholesome" activities that give us a sense of safety and nostalgia.'

The expert added: 'Being at a sleepover with friends not only gives us the opportunity to have the type of deep and lengthy conversations that often tend to occur in the late hours, it also bonds us closer together and provides us a literal safe space.

'We are away from strangers, noise and bustle involved in being outside and away from home. At ours or a friend’s place we may feel more inclined to relax, be ourselves and even divulge things we may not want to discuss in public around prying ears.'

But adult sleepovers isn't the only trend taking social media by storm this summer - gardening has become one of the latest crazes for young Britons, who are investing not only their time but alsohundreds of pounds to create picturesque outsides.

A poll by Home Insurance found modern Brits are spending an average of £360 each spring on plants and ornaments to spruce up their outdoor sanctuaries.

However, it's the younger demographic, aged between 18 and 29, also known as Gen Z, who are leading the charge, splurging up to £451 during the season.

According to the poll, social media appears to be the driving force behind Gen Z's newfound love for gardening, with a staggering 84 per cent citing it as the primary reason for embracing their green-fingered tendencies.

The poll revealed some fascinating insights into Gen Z's gardening habits, with this age group snapping an average of 17 pictures of their plants and gardens every month.

Astonishingly, 39 per cent have even admitted to taking round-the-clock photos of their green spaces.

From homegrown vegetables to enjoying a refreshing drink amidst lush greenery, Gen Z has identified the key elements that garner the most likes on social media.

Whether it's capturing the beauty of spring blossoms or striking a pose while sniffing the flowers, these moments are carefully curated to attract attention on their socials.

Surprisingly, even mundane aspects like compost heaps manage to rack up likes, with six per cent of respondents claiming success in this area.

Meanwhile, two in five say they select their indoor and outdoor plants based on their social media feed and nearly a third say they look to social media to help them learn new gardening skills.

There also appears to be notable correlation between social media validation and gardening satisfaction, as a whopping 93 per cent of Gen Z say it makes them feel proud when their gardening efforts receive likes and comments online.

Moreover, 91 per cent of young Brits believe that nurturing plants not only enhances their overall happiness but also boosts their well-being.

It seems that for Gen Z, gardening isn't just about nurturing plants anymore - it's about cultivating an online persona intertwined with nature's beauty.