Preprint - Enhancing adolescents’ emotion regulation in the social media context: A cluster randomized controlled trial of the Vibe Check social media literacy intervention

This study aimed to test the effectiveness of the Vibe Check intervention that aimed to stimulate adolescents’ affective social media literacy skills, operationalized as adaptive emotion regulation in the social media context. A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted among 636 adolescents (Mage=13.78, SD=.66) who were randomized by school to receive the intervention (N=410) or a control session (N=226). Surveys were completed one week before, immediately post- and two weeks post-intervention. Mixed effects regressions demonstrated a positive intervention effects two weeks later for feeling connected in the digital environment. Negative effects were found for social well-being, cognitive social media literacy and feeling in control over the digital environment immediately after following the intervention. Subgroup analyses were performed for completers, girls and boys. Findings highlight the potential of an affective SML intervention but also the need to test the effectiveness of such programs.