Peer-reviewed article

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

Mollie Romano, Aliya Junaideen, Frances Baehman, Katherine Dale, Arienne Ferchaud et al. · 28 Sept 2026

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.