Social media fitness has never been bigger. It has also never been more confusing. Open any platform and within seconds you are hit with contradictory claims, extreme opinions and algorithm-friendly content that prioritises hooks over substance.
Eugene Teo’s recent video, “Social Media Fitness Is Messed Up”, captured what many athletes, coaches and everyday lifters have been feeling for years. The problem is not that fitness creators lack knowledge. It is that the algorithm rewards the wrong things.
This article breaks down why social media fitness became distorted, how to recognise credible information, and how to protect your training from a system designed to amplify noise over value.
The Algorithm Problem No One Talks About
Eugene highlights a simple but uncomfortable truth. Content that takes two hours to film and three hours to edit often performs better than content that takes 30 hours of planning, scripting, filming and editing.
Creators are forced to choose between two paths:
- Make valuable content that may not get pushed by the algorithm
- Make clickable content that may not represent their beliefs
This tension shapes the fitness landscape far more than most viewers realise.
The algorithm rewards extremes, oversimplification and controversy. It punishes nuance, context and long-form teaching. As a result, the content that surfaces is rarely the content that helps people train better.
At RB100.Fitness, we see this every day. Our deepest articles on hybrid cardio, intelligent strength training and HYROX strategy often receive slower initial traction than simple, fast-paced posts. Yet the long articles are the ones that change how people train.
“When views beat value, the industry suffers.” — RB100.Fitness
Why Clickbait Outperforms Quality
The reason is simple. Algorithms measure engagement, not accuracy.
A thumbnail promising “This Exercise Is Useless” or “The Only Way To Build Muscle” is more clickable than a balanced look at training principles. As Eugene points out, this pressure pushes even high-quality creators toward titles and formats they do not truly believe in.
This dynamic explains why so many lifters feel lost. They are not receiving bad information on purpose. They are receiving information shaped by incentives they cannot see.
The Result: More Confusion, Less Progress
Social media’s constant contradictions create three problems for lifters:
- Overwhelm – Too much conflicting advice prevents people from sticking to a simple, effective plan.
- Decision fatigue – The feeling of needing to constantly update your programme based on the latest “study”, “hack” or “optimal technique”.
- Loss of confidence – People start doubting their own training because someone online made a dramatic claim about the exercise they were doing.
This is exactly why the RB100.Fitness philosophy centres on clarity, consistency and progressive work. The body does not adapt to trends. It adapts to principles.
How To Spot Reliable Fitness Information
To navigate the online landscape, you need a clear filter. Use these four checks when evaluating any fitness content:
1. Does the creator give context?
Look for explanations about who the advice is for, why it works, and when it might not work.
Good creators explain limitations. Click-driven creators hide them.
2. Are they selling magic or teaching principles?
If the message is “This one thing will change everything”, you are being sold engagement, not education.
3. Do they show trade-offs?
Eugene’s critique of the “lengthened partials” research is a perfect example.
He acknowledges what the study gets right and wrong and shows how to interpret its findings in real training.
Creators who present every study as absolute truth should be treated with caution.
4. Does the advice align with your actual goals?
A powerlifter, HYROX athlete and bodybuilder cannot all use the same training template.
This is where internal RB100 resources like our HYROX preparation series and Zone 2 cardio guidance help bring the right context to performance goals.
Internal Link Suggestions:
Why The Science Obsession Makes Things Worse
One of the strongest points in Eugene’s video is that social media has become obsessed with research, often without understanding its limitations.
Lifters are told that one study proves full ROM is superior, or that lengthened partials are the new key to hypertrophy.
Yet Eugene shows clearly:
- Research participants often perform exercises poorly
- Setups are often flawed
- The resistance profile does not match the claim being tested
- Even with good supervision, technique varies dramatically
- No single study can overturn fundamental principles
This is why RB100.Fitness takes a blended evidence-plus-experience approach. Studies inform our training insights, but field results guide them.
“Research adds tools. It does not replace the core principles that build 95 percent of your progress.” — RB100.Fitness
How To Protect Your Training From the Algorithm
Despite the noise, your training does not have to suffer. Use these strategies to keep your progress grounded in reality.
1. Follow fewer people, not more
Curate a small list of creators you trust. Diversifying endlessly creates contradiction, not clarity.
2. Keep one main programme for at least 8 to 12 weeks
Chasing new ideas every week prevents long-term adaptation.
This is why our readers consistently achieve progress following structured RB100 plans and the HYROX series.
3. Prioritise principles over novelty
Key principles should guide your training:
- Progressive overload
- Movement quality
- Recovery and nutrition
- Enough weekly volume
- Conditioning appropriate to your goal
Everything else is seasoning.
4. Remember what the algorithm rewards
Outrage, extremes, conflict and novelty.
This is not the same as accuracy or effectiveness.
5. Re-evaluate content with one simple question
Does this align with the training environment and goals I’m pursuing right now?
If not, discard it.
When Content Helps Instead of Distracts
Social media can still be an incredible educational tool. The goal is not to avoid it entirely, but to turn it into a resource rather than noise.
Here is what genuinely useful content tends to share:
- Teaches fundamentals
- Shows proper technique
- Gives practical examples
- Offers progression options
- Avoids tribalism
- Encourages long-term thinking
- Matches real training environments
This is what we aim to deliver at RB100.Fitness, whether it is a technical breakdown of a hybrid strength workout or guidance on mastering Zone 2 cardio.
The RB100.Fitness Editorial Standard
Eugene’s message aligns closely with our own editorial approach. RB100 content is built around three commitments:
1. Principle-driven insights
We prioritise methods that work across lifters, not trends that disappear within weeks.
2. Real-world context
Whether our articles focus on HYROX racing, hybrid conditioning or strength training, everything is written for real people with real goals.
3. Athlete-informed guidance
Our advice comes from performance environments, competitive athletes and coaches who apply these methods daily.
Fast Answers to Common Questions
Why is social media fitness so confusing?
Because platforms prioritise engagement over accuracy, which rewards extreme claims and contradicting advice.
How do I know if a fitness creator is trustworthy?
Look for context, limitations, clear training principles and consistency across their content.
Should I change my training plan based on every new study or video?
No. Most gains come from effort, progressive overload and sticking to a programme.
How many fitness creators should I follow?
A small, curated list is more effective than large, conflicting inputs.
