Honestly, I don’t think the Instagram influencer era has ruined the classic 6-day muscle split—but it has definitely changed how people approach it.
The 6-day split used to be followed mostly by serious lifters who understood recovery, progressive overload, and proper programming. Now, because of social media, a lot of beginners copy these routines just because they see influencers doing them. The problem is, what works for someone with years of experience (and sometimes even performance-enhancing help) doesn’t always work for an average person.
Filming in the gym isn’t the real issue—it’s the mindset that comes with it. People are more focused on looking good on camera, chasing pumps, or doing fancy exercises instead of sticking to basics like proper form and consistency. That can make the 6-day split less effective if it turns into more of a “content creation routine” rather than a structured workout plan.
At the same time, influencers have also made fitness more accessible. Many people got introduced to gym culture because of them, which is a positive thing. The key difference is intent—if you’re following a 6-day split for results and recovery, it still works. But if you’re just copying workouts for aesthetics or trends, then yeah, it might feel “ruined.”
So overall, the split isn’t the problem—how people use it today is.