Suddenly Laila preferred walking instead of taking the bus. “People see me walking 30 times in the same location,” she says. “They also have to think: What are you doing? It’s getting a little out of control.” “I was running around in my room until 12 at night that day.”

She is not the only one participating in the challenge. Step Up is very popular: the app currently ranks number one on many app download charts.

The noise often goes off quickly

Jay Borger specializes in sports behavior and wonders whether people who compete for the highest number of steps can maintain it. “The challenge is often hype that quickly burns out, so the question is whether these people will continue to take many steps over the long term. Often not.”

Leila, who was among the top 1% of the population in the Netherlands last week, also doubts how long she will remain so fanatical. “You can see that as a good thing, but it’s also extreme sometimes. You don’t gain or gain anything from this, just ego and pride.”

This challenge makes it almost an exception. Because it depends RIVM Research We’re not moving enough, mind you Exercise guidelines Established by the Health Board. Youth and young adults in particular score poorly.

Borger believes you can definitely motivate young people to exercise more through a TikTok challenge, for example. “The challenges and social interaction are of course motivating, and the behavior is contagious,” he explains. “If many people in your environment are reading a particular book or following a diet, you are more likely to adopt it.” These are often people you find important, such as influencers, he adds.

Within the app, Layla is in a group with people she knows well, but also with strangers. “Then you get a DM on Insta from someone who says, ‘You’re doing really well.’

Encouraging each other, even if you don’t know someone personally, is what she says she enjoys doing most. “It brings people together in a safe way, at a distance.”

The challenge did not start in the Netherlands. First TikTokkers Who shared their walking achievements come true Somalia. A short time later, people from Great Britain, Italy, and Belgium, among other countries, followed suit.

pressure

Shaima Mustaghir (25 years old) from Antwerp put the application on her phone because she saw it among her colleagues and friends. “This competition pushes me to go somewhere on foot instead of using public transportation.”

Shaima sees the challenge as a positive motivator, but that does not apply to everyone around her. “There are friends who have said they don’t participate because they find not exercising enough too confrontational. So I can imagine that might cause stress as well.”

Leila confirms that Step Up can cause you stress. When we spoke to her, she was in 48th place in her walking group of about a hundred people. “I’m feeling a little panicky, but it’s still early in the day. I still have until twelve tonight, so it’s going to be a battle. I’m taking it really seriously.”

Borger agrees that too much focus on competing and winning can cause stress. “A little competition is good, but taking more steps doesn’t always lead to better mental health. There are a lot of people who are very fit and always feel sad.”

On the other hand, walking can also help get rid of negative thoughts. “Taking more steps, especially outside, can improve focus and mood. Exercising together can strengthen your friendships, too.”

Borger believes that challenge can also frustrate the goal, especially if you’re a fanatic and really want to beat your friends. “If the need to win keeps you running up and down stairs at night, this is likely to cause more stress than benefits, especially if you feel obligated, as the pressure and fear of failure may increase.

In this video, you can see how Laila and Shaima tried Step Up:

“I’m very competitive,” Laila says of her daily step count. “I’m walking aimlessly, all I want is to get the 10,000 steps. In the app, you can also see how many kilometers I’ve walked and that’s what really motivates me.” She says she likes round numbers. “Then I keep going, because then you think, just a few more steps and then I’ll be 20 kilometers away.”

If something feels like a “must-have,” Borger says, the enjoyment decreases. As a result, it can have a negative impact on your mental health. However, according to Borger, a little competition isn’t necessarily bad for your mental health. “A little stress is good and can help you become more stress-resistant and develop perseverance.”