A Social Media Intervention to Increase Caregiver Knowledge of Early Infant Communication: Multiple Methods Intervention Development and Pilot Study.

Abstract

Background: Greater caregiver knowledge of early language development may support more reciprocal interactions with infants and improved child language outcomes. Short-form video interventions on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok could be a scalable, cost-effective way to increase caregiver knowledge.

Objective: The objective of this investigation is to describe the development and testing of a version of the BabyTok Project, a social media-based intervention for caregivers of very young infants under 3 months of age.

Methods: We used a multiple-method, pre-post quasi-experimental design to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and initial evidence of effectiveness of the BabyTok Project through a knowledge measure called the SPEAK-R (Survey of Parent/Provider Expectations and Knowledge-Research).

Results: Engagement metrics, participants' postintervention surveys, and feedback support the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Statistically significant scores on the SPEAK-R offer initial indications of change in caregiver knowledge.

Conclusions: The BabyTok Project has multiple demonstrations of its feasibility and acceptability and shows promise as a means to increase caregiver knowledge of early infant communication development and strategies to enhance children's learning. Interventions like the BabyTok Project could be a scalable way to promote optimal child language outcomes.