Most people at the gym are either not paying attention to you at all, or are actually friendly and willing to help. They'll show you how to use equipment or give you a spot if you need it. Mostly, they'll just leave you alone to do your thing.
If you're a regular, you're focused on your own goals, so watching other people is just a distraction.
The exception is the 'influencer' types who set up their phone tripods and film content. How many of those you see depends on where you are and the specific gym.
Personally, I hate waiting for machines, not controlling the music, and wearing headphones, so I built my own home gym.