Why YouTube Sports Content Fails to Get Students Moving

Researchers led by Professor Youngho Kim and Dojin An surveyed university students in their 20s to determine if the convenience of digital sports media could spark a transition from screen time to gym time. Utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model, the team analyzed how motivation and ease of use influenced viewer behavior. While students reported high levels of intent to use YouTube for sports-related information, this digital consumption remained a passive experience rather than a catalyst for exercise.

Published in the journal Performance Enhancement & Health, the data suggests that the current ecosystem of sports content lacks the necessary bridges to real-world application. The authors argue that platforms like YouTube must evolve beyond entertainment. To bridge the gap, they recommend integrating actionable tools directly into video feeds, such as structured exercise plans, social support networks, and localized links to sports facilities. Without these active interventions, the digital sports boom may continue to exist in a vacuum, divorced from the physical well-being of its audience.