Social Media Indoor Tanning Study

Using a Narrative-Based Approach to Reducing Indoor Tanning

The purpose of this research is to develop a social media delivered intervention to reduce unprotected sun exposure in young adults with a history of tanning.

We will use social marketing theory and a user-centered design approach to develop a social media intervention that engages young adults with a history of tanning to practice sun safety behaviors. We will incentivize young adults who have a history of tanning to create social media posts that encourage their peers to engage in sun safety. Focus groups of tanners guided the development of the intervention. Investigators will conduct a pilot feasibility trial where participants will be randomized to a condition in which they are incentivized to create sun safety social media messages to be posted on a sun safety social media account or a condition in which they are incentivized to create social media messages about how to use technology to support healthy lifestyle behaviors to be posted on a health technology social media account. The intervention will last 4 weeks. Feasibility outcomes include recruitment, retention, acceptability, participation, social media message engagement (likes, comments, shares), persuasive impact of messages, unprotected sun exposure, sun protection, and tanning behavior. This work will inform a fully powered randomized trial testing the efficacy of this intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 18-30
• Tanned indoors or outdoors at least once in the past year
• Intends to tan indoors or outdoors this summer
• Daily user of any social media platform

Exclusion Criteria:

• No smartphone
• Does not use a social media platform daily
• Lives in a state with an average temperature <75 degrees in May
• Inability to provide consent due to mental illness or a cognitive impairment
• Non-English speaking
• Prisoner