“Those sweet, sweet likes”: Sharing physical activity over social network sites

This study explored the naturally occurring interactions over social network sites (SNS) about physical activity. A mixed methods design was used. Participants (N = 244) completed a cross sectional survey included open-ended questions about the reasons for posting or not posting about physical activity on SNS, as well as how others respond to their posts. A qualitative analysis was performed on the reasons for posting and not posting on SNS. Reasons for sharing physical activity included: keeping people informed, inviting others to join in, inspiring others and gaining recognition. For those who did not share, reasons reported were privacy concerns and a lack of interest. Results of a logistic regression revealed that sharers were more likely check SNS frequently, be a student and be physically active.