# Online communities and classes > Online groups and classes look about as helpful as in-person ones, though they tend to raise activity only a little. They suit you best if getting to a class is hard. Start with people you know or a free local group, and treat any online option as a trial you can leave. - Type: Guide - Topic: Social & Family › Support & Accountability - Reviewed by: Andrew Schox, BSc(Hons) PGradDipPod MPod, Podiatrist (2026-10-21) - URL: https://twikka.com/learn/online-communities-and-classes - Updated: 2026-10-21 - **Online groups do about as well as in-person groups:** for activity and health in adults, the format made little difference [1]. - **The boost to overall activity is small:** social media and game-style programmes tend to lift activity a little [2][3]. - **Start with people you know:** feelings of support and belonging were reported with familiar people, not strangers [4]. - **Look local first:** council and health service websites list free walking groups and classes [5][6]. ## Are online communities and support groups helpful? They may help a little, but the effects are small. Programmes using social media tend to raise activity by about 28 more minutes a week of moderate-to-vigorous activity, though that figure is uncertain [2]. Most online social network programmes brought some improvement in a health behaviour, but the changes were generally small [7]. Results for social support and social networks are mixed: sometimes helpful, sometimes not, and sometimes no difference [8]. Online group programmes did about as well as face-to-face groups for activity and health in adults, and groups did only slightly better than individual programmes [1]. That makes them a reasonable option if you find in-person sessions hard because of mobility limits, transport problems or living far from classes [1]. It isn't clear yet whether the benefits last beyond about six months [7]. Treat any online group as an experiment. If getting to a class is hard, a live online group class is a reasonable thing to try. If it doesn't suit you, you can leave and try another style. ## How can online platforms help you find active communities? Local council and health service websites are the most direct route. They list free walking groups, running clubs, cycling routes and group classes [5]. Local walking groups can be free and suit all ages and abilities, and walking needs no specialist equipment [6]. Many gyms and fitness centres offer free sessions to help you choose, and you can ask to watch or try a session before you sign up [9]. If getting out is hard, online exercise can cut down on travel and time [10]. If technology is a worry, a first walk-through plus someone to call or visit when something goes wrong helped people keep going [11]. People who are less familiar with technology are more likely to resist it, and low income and limited schooling are the main obstacles, so low-cost options and short courses to build skills are worth looking for [12]. Social media can point you to activities, but physical activity information there is often low quality [13]. Favour information from health services and other established organisations over posts from individual accounts, and check advice against a trusted health source or a health professional [13]. > **Try this:** This week, search your local council or health service website for a walking group or class. Ask whether you can come along once to watch or try it before you commit. ## Are online group classes worth it? They look broadly as good as in-person classes. Online groups did about as well as face-to-face groups for activity and health outcomes in adults [1]. In older adults, exercise by videoconference brought small to moderate gains in physical function, emotional wellbeing, quality of life and muscle strength compared with no exercise [10]. Lower-body strength improved, though the gains were small and their practical importance is uncertain [14]. Most of this evidence is in adults aged 60 or 65 and over. A live online class did not change measured daily activity in sedentary older adults, but it reduced low mood and improved how far people got around, with 97% attendance [15]. So don't judge a class only by whether you become more active overall. Sticking with it is mixed. Attendance was high in some programmes, with a median of 86% among frail or disabled older adults [11], and low in others: in one, only 29.6% were exercising more than 120 minutes a week at three months [14]. Interest often starts high and fades, and frustration with technology that feels too complicated adds to dropout [12]. Whether video-delivered exercise changes falls or fear of falling is uncertain [14]. If balance is a worry, choose a class where an instructor can see you and adjust the exercises. Pick the format that fits you, whether online, in person or a mix. Check that your connection and set-up work before you commit, and ask for help setting up if you need it. ## Can apps and online challenges connect people through fitness? Yes, to a modest degree. Game-style programmes had a small to medium effect on activity. They beat waiting lists and, by a smaller margin, similar programmes without game features [3]. Apps linked to an existing social network kept people engaged, while app-only programmes lost them over time [16]. Social features included sharing, likes and comments, comparison and competition, and the mix varied too much to say which one matters most [16]. A game with social incentives among family members raised daily steps by about 1,700, almost an extra mile a day, while it ran [17]. Those results came from people with a smartphone or computer, so they may not carry over to everyone, or to networks that aren't family [17]. A short, friendly challenge among people who know each other can be very engaging, but that high engagement is unlikely to last much beyond a few weeks [7]. Programmes that rely on technology often lose people over time [12]. Be thoughtful about what you share in any group or challenge, because the safety of social media programmes, including privacy, isn't well established [2]. If you try a challenge, a small team of people you already know may be the easiest way to start. Choose something simple to set up. If the technology is frustrating, try another option or ask someone to help you. ## What are social features in fitness apps good for? They seem most useful for motivation and for helping you keep going, particularly with people you already know. Social sharing raised motivation through support and a sense of belonging, but people reported those feelings with familiar users, not with strangers [4]. The link between social networking and higher engagement is preliminary, not proven [16]. Social features can also backfire. People were sometimes put off when others in the group didn't take part, or let down when their posts got no reactions [4]. Goals that are too demanding can discourage people even when they are becoming more active [4]. Across studies, results for social support were positive, negative and neutral [8]. The effect of game-style programmes weakened after they ended: at follow-up, about 14 weeks later, it was very small to small [3]. To get the most from social features: - Use them with people you already know if you can. - Set goals that feel doable rather than as high as the app suggests. - If a group's comparisons or silence leave you flat, it's fine to leave and try another. ## When to check with a health professional If you're starting exercise after a long break, it's always a good idea to see your doctor first. For an injury or a health condition, see a health professional, such as your doctor or a physio. Start gently and build up slowly, and tell the instructor about any injuries or limits. If a muscle or joint is sore, or soreness shows up a day or two later, ease off, and see a doctor or other health professional if it persists or gets worse. Unusual tiredness isn't an emergency, but it is worth getting checked by a doctor. Call your local emergency number for chest pain or pressure (or pain spreading to the arm, neck, jaw or back, especially with sweating or feeling sick), severe breathlessness, fainting or collapse, signs of a stroke, a serious injury, or someone who isn't safe. If you have thoughts of self-harm, contact a local crisis line (findahelpline.com lists free services in every country), with your local emergency number. ## Quick answers ### What if I'm not confident with technology? Ask for a first walk-through and for someone you can call if something goes wrong. That kind of set-up help makes it easier to keep going. Free or low-cost options are worth looking for, and if a tool feels too complicated, it's fine to try a simpler one or ask someone to help you. ### Can an online group help if I live far from classes? Yes. Online groups can reach people who find in-person sessions hard because of mobility limits, transport problems or living far away. Online group programmes did about as well as face-to-face groups for activity and health outcomes in adults, so a live online class is a reasonable thing to try. ### Is it better to exercise with others or on my own? Group and individual programmes did about equally well, and the advantage of groups was small. The best choice is the one you will keep doing. Many people find a group builds connection, though some say socialising isn't an important part of exercise for them. ## Sources 1. Kritz M et al. (2026). Individual versus group-based interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of physical activity, functional, psychosocial and health outcomes. Nature Human Behaviour. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-026-02429-0 2. Petkovic J et al. (2021). Behavioural interventions delivered through interactive social media for health behaviour change, health outcomes, and health equity in the adult population. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd012932.pub2 3. Mazeas A et al. (2022). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Gamification on Physical Activity: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://doi.org/10.2196/26779 4. Hosseinpour M, Terlutter R (2019). Your Personal Motivator is with You: A Systematic Review of Mobile Phone Applications Aiming at Increasing Physical Activity. Sports Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01128-3 5. Royal Orthopaedic Hospital. Exercise and movement. https://roh.nhs.uk/supporting-services/waiting-well/exercise-and-movement 6. Plymouth City Council. Walking groups. https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/walking-groups 7. Maher CA et al. (2014). Are health behavior change interventions that use online social networks effective? A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.2952 8. Gao Z et al. (2025). Social capital and physical activity: a literature review up to March 2024. Frontiers in Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1467571 9. Healthdirect Australia (2025). Group exercise - health benefits and types of group exercise. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/group-exercise-for-beginners 10. Toledano-Shubi A et al. (2025). Feasibility and effectiveness of physical exercise for older adults delivered remotely via videoconferencing: systematic review and meta analysis. Age and Ageing. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaf171 11. Dawson R et al. (2024). Exercise Interventions Delivered Through Telehealth to Improve Physical Functioning for Older Adults with Frailty, Cognitive, or Mobility Disability: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Telemedicine Journal and E-Health. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2023.0177 12. Bertolazzi A et al. (2024). Barriers and facilitators to health technology adoption by older adults with chronic diseases: an integrative systematic review. BMC Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18036-5 13. Thomas DD et al. (2025). Physical Activity Misinformation on Social Media: Systematic Review. JMIR Infodemiology. https://doi.org/10.2196/62760 14. Adliah F et al. (2025). Effects of exercise programmes delivered using video technology on physical performance and falls in people aged 60 years and over living in the community: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092775 15. Coletta G et al. (2024). A live online exercise program for older adults improves depression and life-space mobility: A mixed-methods pilot randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0312992 16. Petersen JM, Prichard I, Kemps E (2019). A Comparison of Physical Activity Mobile Apps With and Without Existing Web-Based Social Networking Platforms: Systematic Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://doi.org/10.2196/12687 17. Patel MS et al. (2017). Effect of a Game-Based Intervention Designed to Enhance Social Incentives to Increase Physical Activity Among Families: The BE FIT Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.3458 --- Source: Twikka (https://twikka.com/learn/online-communities-and-classes). General information about physical activity, not medical advice.