Social media as a driver of physical activity: A snapshot from sport sciences students

Abstract

Social media has become integral to daily life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these digital tools enabled people to maintain physical activity at home despite restrictions, positively impacting public health. This study examines whether the trend of using social media to support physical activity has continued post-pandemic. A questionnaire was administered to 251 university sport sciences students to gauge their perceptions of social media's role in guiding and promoting physical activity. The findings indicate that participants engage with social media daily, viewing platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok as valuable for visualizing and promoting physical activity. However, they report a lack of professional training in social media use at the university level. These results carry practical implications for health policymakers, educational institutions, faculty, students, and sport industry professionals, highlighting the importance of targeted training in social media management and the development of relevant policies to harness the potential of social media in promoting physical activity.