scholarly journals Online Social Networks That Connect Users to Physical Activity Partners: A Review and Descriptive Analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atul Nakhasi ◽  
Album Xiaotian Shen ◽  
Ralph Joseph Passarella ◽  
Lawrence J Appel ◽  
Cheryl AM Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Descriptive Analysis

scholarly journals Digital Inequalities in the Use of Self-Tracking Diet and Fitness Apps: Interview Study on the Influence of Social, Economic, and Cultural Factors (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faustine Régnier ◽  
Louis Chauvel
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Use Of Self ◽  
Digital Devices ◽  
Diet And Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Watchers

BACKGROUND Digital devices are driving economic and social transformations, but assessing the uses, perceptions, and impact of these new technologies on diet and physical activity remains a major societal challenge. OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine under which social, economic, and cultural conditions individuals in France were more likely to be actively invested in the use of self-tracking diet and fitness apps for better health behaviors. METHODS Existing users of 3 diet and fitness self-tracking apps (Weight Watchers, MyFitnessPal, and sport apps) were recruited from 3 regions of France. We interviewed 79 individuals (Weight Watchers, n=37; MyFitnessPal, n=20; sport apps, n=22). In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with each participant, using open-ended questions about their use of diet and fitness apps. A triangulation of methods (content, textual, and quantitative analyses) was performed. RESULTS We found 3 clusters of interviewees who differed by social background and curative goal linked to use under constraint versus preventive goal linked to chosen use, and intensity of their self-quantification efforts and participation in social networks. Interviewees used the apps for a diversity of uses, including measurement, tracking, quantification, and participation in digital communities. A digital divide was highlighted, comprising a major social gap. Social conditions for appropriation of self-tracking devices included sociodemographic factors, life course stages, and cross-cutting factors of heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS Individuals from affluent or intermediate social milieus were most likely to use the apps and to participate in the associated online social networks. These interviewees also demonstrated a preventive approach to a healthy lifestyle. Individuals from lower milieus were more reluctant to use digital devices relating to diet and physical activity or to participate in self-quantification. The results of the study have major implications for public health: the digital self-quantification device is intrinsically less important than the way the individual uses it, in terms of adoption of successful health behaviors.

scholarly journals Support or competition? How online social networks increase physical activity: A randomized controlled trial

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 453-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingwen Zhang ◽  
Devon Brackbill ◽  
Sijia Yang ◽  
Joshua Becker ◽  
Natalie Herbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Analysis of User Interactions in Online Social Networks

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seokchan Yun ◽  
Heungseok Do ◽  
Jinuk Jung ◽  
Song Mina ◽  
Namgoong Hyun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
User Interactions
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