| Title: |
The 'Memeification' of Sexual Health Communication on Instagram |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Andrew Porter (ORCID 0000-0001-8315-7932); Spring Cooper; Ashley Falcon (ORCID 0000-0001-5936-5176); Megan Piller; Ritika Modi; Emily Hawver |
| Source: |
Sex Education: Sexuality, Society and Learning. 2025 25(2):221-237. |
| Availability: |
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
17 |
| Publication Date: |
2025 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: |
Social Media; Photography; Visual Aids; Handheld Devices; Health Education; Public Health; Sex Education; Health Promotion; Mass Media Role; Evidence Based Practice; Humor; Popular Culture; Internet; Social Attitudes; Information Dissemination; Audio Equipment; Electronic Publishing; Mass Media Effects |
| DOI: |
10.1080/14681811.2023.2300069 |
| ISSN: |
1468-1811; 1472-0825 |
| Abstract: |
The lack of accurate and comprehensive sexual health education in the USA persists as a pressing public health issue. The Sex Wrap (TSW) is a multimedia sexual health podcast and social media presence that educates followers on sexual health and ancillary themes such as sexuality, relationships and communication. TSW's Instagram account repackages the evidence-based sexual health information discussed during the podcast into Internet memes. We analysed the top-performing TSW posts from Jan 2019-Dec 2020 according to Instagram's engagement metrics to determine what type of posts were most interesting to followers and begin to understand how social media helps drive interventions. The meme-based sexual health intervention via TSW's Instagram increased engagement, improved reach, and converted followers to podcast listeners. Insight data demonstrates how social media can address the sexual health education disparities caused by the failure of abstinence-only-until-marriage (AOUM) curricula. This case study exhibits how social media-based interventions can comprehensively fill existing gaps in sexual health education. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Entry Date: |
2025 |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1466692 |
| Database: |
ERIC |