Social media literacy is a vital but rarely taught skill set for today’s youth. To address this problem, we have developed an innovative social media literacy education platform called Social Media TestDrive. This tool provides youth with a safe place to learn about and experience social media without the potential negative impacts of being on a real social media site. Social Media TestDrive features a social media simulation that provides a realistic but protected environment for learning. Each educational module offers multiple opportunities for learners to discover key concepts and to practice social media skills and mindful decision-making. Education occurs through demonstrations of prosocial behaviors, guided activities where learners can practice skills, exploration on the social media simulation’s timeline through free-play, and reflection. Topics specific to social media literacy are covered in our educational modules, such as online privacy, self-presentation, and cyberbullying. The main goal of Social Media TestDrive is to enhance core media literacy competencies in middle school youth who are on the brink of engaging in the world of social media. To this end, the program aims to impart skills and self-efficacy for prosocial behaviors on social media platforms, and to develop the ability to critically evaluate social media, including message quality, credibility, and consequences. In this showcase, we will introduce the Social Media TestDrive platform, including how it was developed, its theoretical background, and our main educational approaches.
