Improving social media literacy to prevent body image concerns in young people: preliminary outcomes from the BodyKind online education programme

Objective Body image concerns are common among young people, exacerbated by harmful messaging and unrealistic appearance standards on social media. Universal, school-based interventions can reach large numbers of adolescents but are lacking research evidence.Method The current study is a pilot evaluation of the Butterfly Foundation’s BodyKind Online Education (BKOE) programme, a three module, self-paced e-learning intervention for Years 7–8 (12–14 years) and Years 9–10 (15–16 years) to improve social media literacy. A total of 117 adolescents (aged 13–15 years, 67.1% female) from four Australian schools participated. Measures were completed before and after the programme to assess its acceptability and effects on social media literacy, body image, appearance and identity management on social media, self-compassion, and general wellbeing.Results Significant improvement was found in social media literacy related to critical assessment of appearance-focused media messages and the over-identification subscale of self-compassion. There was no significant change in other outcomes. Findings for programme acceptability were mixed.Conclusions The BKOE programme may be a useful intervention for social media literacy in young people, with potential for scalability due to its brief, self-paced design. Programme improvements and further research is needed to enhance engagement of young people and impacts on body image.