Enhancing Social Media Literacy as an Educational Strategy for Sexual Orientation and Reproductive Health among Adolescent Girls at SMA Negeri 1 Merapi Barat, Lahat Regency, South Sumatra

Abstract

Adolescents are among the most active users of social media, making digital platforms an important source of information on sexuality and reproductive health. This community service program aimed to improve social media literacy and increase knowledge regarding sexual orientation and reproductive health among adolescent girls through structured health education. A one-group pretest–posttest design was implemented at SMA Negeri 1 Merapi Barat, Lahat Regency, South Sumatra. Fifty female students in grade XI were recruited using a total  sampling technique. The mean knowledge score increased from 14.64 ± 2.678 before the intervention to 24.96 ± 2.138 after the intervention, with a mean difference of 10.32 points. Statistical analysis showed a significant improvement in knowledge after the educational program (p<0.001). Social media literacybased education effectively improved adolescent girls' knowledge of sexual orientation and reproductive health. Integrating interactive educational methods with digital literacy materials can strengthen critical thinking, promote responsible social media use, and support healthy reproductive health behaviors.