Use and Evaluation of Contraceptive Information in Social Media: An Interview Study with Adolescents and Young Adults

Introduction Adolescents and young adults today often obtain information about contraception from the internet and in particular from social media such as YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok.Objectives To date, however, little research has examined the details of this use of social media contraceptive information among the youth (Research Question 1). It is also unclear how young people evaluate contraception content (RQ2) and related audience comments (RQ3), and what their requirements are with regard to good contraception education on social media (RQ4).Methods In order to answer these four research questions, a preregistered qualitative interview study was conducted in 2022. This involved a sample of N = 12 cis-gendered heterosexual adolescents and young adults (17 to 25 years old, 50 % female and 50 % male) being questioned by means of guided interviews (average duration: 39 minutes). The interviews were fully transcribed and coded using the qualitative data analysis software MAXQDA.Results It was found that respondents rarely actively searched for contraceptive information on social media, but rather were mainly fed this information in push mode which could then stimulate further information searches (RQ1). Respondents rated contraception content on social media especially positively when it came from experts and had a high level of information quality (RQ2). Audience comments on contraceptive posts were regarded as interesting and relevant, but respondents said they were unlikely to be influenced by these in their contraception-related attitudes (RQ3). In the view of the respondents, contraceptive education on social media ideally takes the form of explanatory videos by experts which compare different contraceptive methods and in which authentic reports by peers regarding positive as well as negative experiences are also integrated (RQ4).Conclusion The findings indicate a need to provide contraception education on social media in accordance with the requirements outlined. Also, a critical-constructive approach to social media contraceptive information should be adopted in sexual education interventions.