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Young People’s Perspectives on and Experiences of Health-Related Social Media, Apps, and Wearable Health Devices

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  • Victoria A. Goodyear

    (School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK)

  • Kathleen M. Armour

    (PVC-Education, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK)

Abstract

It has been reported from numerous international and socio-economic contexts that young people are becoming increasingly interested in and/or using social media, apps, and wearable devices for their health. Yet, there are few robust empirical accounts on the types of health-related information young people find, select, and use, the reasons for their choices, and how young people use these technologies in a way that influences their health-related knowledge and behaviors. This paper synthesizes findings from three separate projects that investigated over 1600 young people’s (age 13–19) perspectives on and experiences of health-related social media, apps, and wearable health devices. The findings show that young people are both critical and vulnerable users and generators of digital health technologies. Many young people experience a range of positive benefits for their physical activity, diet/nutritional, and body image related behaviors. Yet there are a number of risks, and young people report on the power of digital health technologies to shape, influence, and change their health-related behaviors. The paper concludes by providing new and evidence-based direction and guidance on how relevant adults (including teachers, parents/guardians, health professionals/practitioners, policy-makers, and researchers) can better understand and support young people’s engagement with digital health technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Victoria A. Goodyear & Kathleen M. Armour, 2018. "Young People’s Perspectives on and Experiences of Health-Related Social Media, Apps, and Wearable Health Devices," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:7:y:2018:i:8:p:137-:d:163548
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ellen Wartella & Vicky Rideout & Heather Montague & Leanne Beaudoin-Ryan & Alexis Lauricella, 2016. "Teens, Health and Technology: A National Survey," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(3), pages 13-23.
    2. Emma Rich & Andy Miah, 2014. "Understanding Digital Health as Public Pedagogy: A Critical Framework," Societies, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-20, June.
    3. Simone Fullagar & Emma Rich & Jessica Francombe-Webb, 2017. "New Kinds of (Ab)normal?: Public Pedagogies, Affect, and Youth Mental Health in the Digital Age," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-12, August.
    4. Maria Lahman & Monica Geist & Katrina Rodriguez & Pamela Graglia & Kathryn DeRoche, 2011. "Culturally responsive relational reflexive ethics in research: the three rs," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 45(6), pages 1397-1414, October.
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    2. Rich, Emma & Lupton, Deborah, 2022. "Rethinking digital biopedagogies: How sociomaterial relations shape English secondary students' digital health practices," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).

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