Interactive communication in the process of physical education: are social media contributing to the improvement of physical training performance.

Abstract

The development of modern technologies and the use of social networks create an environment for the exchange of information, interactive communication, learning, and optimization of various processes. The study describes the results of the effectiveness of using various social media tools to increase the level of physical activity in people of different ages (12–35 years old). Effective tools for increasing the level of physical activity that can be used on social media have been considered. A survey created in Google forms was conducted to select research participants and group them; the pedagogical experiment is the introduction of social media tools to encourage users to do sports. The experiment involved 148 people of different age groups: adolescents, students, adults. After the experiment with the experimental group, there were 59.20% of participants with an average level of physical activity and 22.37% of participants with a high level of physical activity; in the control group, 31.58% of participants had a low level of physical activity, 48.70%—average, 10.53%—high. Most participants of all ages (88.16%) refrained from posting videos of their achievements on social media, while nine participants (5 pupils and 4 students) posted their achievements in the form of short video exercises or screenshots, and reports of exercises in mobile applications in their groups. The research results are applicable to various social groups and can be used to create private groups on social media to encourage physical activity. The data obtained can be used for further development of specialized training programs using digital technology and social networks.