Can Online Trends Beat the Drop in Women’s Sport After School?

This Girl Can, Lazy Girls Run, Hot Girls Walk; these are just a few of the accounts and movements redefining how women approach exercise. Online and offline, these communities make moving your body feel doable, social, fun and even provide the heavily chased-after aesthetic. In a culture driven by trends, they have pushed to make movement itself a trend, breaking down the pressures that have long surrounded sport for women and girls, instead creating low-pressure, welcoming spaces to get active. 

And maybe, just maybe, things really are shifting. It’s not only about viral trends; elite sportswomen are also taking up more space in the headlines than ever. Emma Raducanu is a household name. The Lionesses are playing to sold-out stadiums as they fight through the Euros, winning fans match after match. Meanwhile, the 2025 London Marathon saw its closest-ever gender split. Hugh Brasher, the event director for the TCS London Marathon, called it record-breaking: female applicants rose from about 43% in 2024 to 49% in 2025, bringing the event close to true gender parity. 

So, what does all this mean? Maybe nothing. Or maybe quite a lot. For young girls, seeing women speak openly about sport, succeed at elite levels, and embrace movement for joy and wellbeing, no matter their ability, has the potential to be powerful. 

It’s well known that girls’ participation in sport drops off in secondary school, and even more so after they leave. It’s also well known that today’s teens spend hours scrolling TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Threads. But these same platforms that fuel trends and viral videos are now weaving sport and exercise into girls’ daily lives in ways that feel relatable, achievable and fun. Influencers are speaking candidly about their exercise routines and breaking down barriers, making it clear they have the money and time to do more than the average person. 

Accessibility is improving too. Many of these online-led communities, especially running clubs, are free to join, easy to access, and often offer discounts with big sports retailers. 

The importance of removing the pressure of competition and adding relatable community can’t be overstated. Many girls stop playing sport because they feel they’re “not good enough” or find competitive spaces intimidating. But when movement becomes about joy, community, or self-care, rather than winning, more women feel they belong and keep coming back. This does not discount the elite-level athletes or those who continue to compete; it instead provides an alternative available space for more people to access. 

So, can online trends really beat the drop in women’s activity after school? Who knows? But like so many others cheering on this new wave of movement, I’m excited to find out.