Dr Melody Taba
@melodytaba.bsky.social
Research Fellow at the Sydney Health Literacy Lab, University of Sydney. Researching young people, social media health communication & digital health literacy📲
Racism, socio-economic disadvantage, trauma and structural barriers are just some of the compounding factors faced by multicultural young people when accessing – or attempting to access – mental health care. That's among the key findings of this new report ⬇️
Two new reports from Swinburne's Social Innovation Research Institute and @napwha.bsky.social: NAPWHA Social Media Harm Reduction Guide. doi.org/10.25916/sut... & Legal and policy implications affecting HIV community organisations’ use of digital technologies and platforms. doi.org/10.25916/sut...
🎓 Students aren't blindly trusting AI translation A study of Chinese university English majors found they use AI translation in three moves: draft, cross-check, then fix by hand. Strategic, not lazy. 🔗 doi.org/10.1002/jcal.70294 #CriticalAILiteracy #AIinEducation #EdTech
Engaging With <fc>AI</fc> Tools in Translation Tasks: Chinese University <fc>EFL</fc> Students' Perceptions and Practices
Background The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping language education, with AI-assisted language learning (AILL) offering new opportunities for personalised support and in...
doi.org
Can social media-style interventions improve digital health literacy? We ran an RCT with 2000+ people to test a TikTok with a science communicator, animated video and health literacy-friendly text and found: All 3 formats improved digital health literacy! doi.org/10.1007/s116... #AcademicSky 🛟🧪
The Effects of a Short Video Intervention on Digital Health Literacy Skills: An Online Randomised Controlled Trial - Journal of General Internal Medicine
Background Social media has an influence on public health communication. There are growing concerns about digital health literacy, and how younger adults find good-quality health information online, and their ability to use and appraise it. Objective To test a digital health literacy intervention addressing critical appraisal of online health information for younger adults focused on three core elements: Who said it? When did they say it? Why did they say it? Design Participants were randomised to receive the intervention via one of three formats: (1) a short-animated video, (2) a TikTok-style short video, (3) literacy-sensitive written text, or (4) a control group. The primary outcomes were critical digital health literacy (critical DHL) and engagement. The secondary outcomes were digital health literacy (DHL) measured by eHEALS, acceptability, personal relevance, intentions to share and novelty. Participants Participants aged 18–39 were recruited via an online social research panel. Key Results The sample (n = 2124) included 54% women; 50% had no university qualifications and 30% reported inadequate health literacy. The critical DHL mean score was significantly higher across intervention arms compared to control: control 8.5 out of 19 (SD4.7); text 11.0 (SD4.5); animation 10.9 (SD4.6); TikTok 10.4 (SD4.7) (p < 0.001). Engagement showed no significant differences across arms. All intervention arms increased eHEALS scores compared to control (p < 0.001). Acceptability and intention to share were high across all interventions (scored > 16/21 and > 3/5, respectively). Text scored highest on personal relevance (p = 0.003) and animation scored highest in novelty (p = 0.054) compared to TikTok. There was an interaction effect with gender with TikTok and text intervention arms showing a greater impact on men than women compared to control (p = 0.010). Conclusions Brief, scalable social media–style interventions can support critical health literacy skills in younger people. Further research is needed to understand how different formats perform in real-world social media environments. Trial Registration Prospectively registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: trial number ACTRN12623001229662, trial registration date: 29/11/2023.
doi.org
Making the case for embedded health journalism in research projects - by Leanne Wells, for Croakey Professional Services www.croakey.org/making-the-c...
Making the case for embedded health journalism in research projects
Croakey Health Media has launched an innovative concept to embed health journalism in research projects, reports Leanne Wells. "Embedding health
croakey.org
Can social media-style interventions improve digital health literacy? We ran an RCT with 2000+ people to test a TikTok with a science communicator, animated video and health literacy-friendly text and found: All 3 formats improved digital health literacy! doi.org/10.1007/s116... #AcademicSky 🛟🧪
The Effects of a Short Video Intervention on Digital Health Literacy Skills: An Online Randomised Controlled Trial - Journal of General Internal Medicine
Background Social media has an influence on public health communication. There are growing concerns about digital health literacy, and how younger adults find good-quality health information online, and their ability to use and appraise it. Objective To test a digital health literacy intervention addressing critical appraisal of online health information for younger adults focused on three core elements: Who said it? When did they say it? Why did they say it? Design Participants were randomised to receive the intervention via one of three formats: (1) a short-animated video, (2) a TikTok-style short video, (3) literacy-sensitive written text, or (4) a control group. The primary outcomes were critical digital health literacy (critical DHL) and engagement. The secondary outcomes were digital health literacy (DHL) measured by eHEALS, acceptability, personal relevance, intentions to share and novelty. Participants Participants aged 18–39 were recruited via an online social research panel. Key Results The sample (n = 2124) included 54% women; 50% had no university qualifications and 30% reported inadequate health literacy. The critical DHL mean score was significantly higher across intervention arms compared to control: control 8.5 out of 19 (SD4.7); text 11.0 (SD4.5); animation 10.9 (SD4.6); TikTok 10.4 (SD4.7) (p < 0.001). Engagement showed no significant differences across arms. All intervention arms increased eHEALS scores compared to control (p < 0.001). Acceptability and intention to share were high across all interventions (scored > 16/21 and > 3/5, respectively). Text scored highest on personal relevance (p = 0.003) and animation scored highest in novelty (p = 0.054) compared to TikTok. There was an interaction effect with gender with TikTok and text intervention arms showing a greater impact on men than women compared to control (p = 0.010). Conclusions Brief, scalable social media–style interventions can support critical health literacy skills in younger people. Further research is needed to understand how different formats perform in real-world social media environments. Trial Registration Prospectively registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: trial number ACTRN12623001229662, trial registration date: 29/11/2023.
doi.org
Between 2003 and 2024, Australians’ life expectancy and years lived in “full health” increased. But the time spent in poor health also rose: by 1.2 years for men and 1.5 years for women. theconversation.com/mental-illne...
Mental illness is up in young people, dementia is now the biggest killer: Australia’s health in 2026
Dementia is now the leading cause of death, overtaking heart disease. The Conversation’s experts explain how Australians’ health has changed – both good and bad.
theconversation.com
I'm trying to build my audience for content around how conversation works in the wild. This is to help people learn and to promote my company, Bedside Manners. Pls follow me on insta so I can do things like "trial reels” that get to people beyond my followers! www.instagram.com/the_conversa...
Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.
instagram.com
Testing COMPLETE 🫡 Our RCT found brief social media interventions (like educational TikToks by a professional science communicator, animations and health-literacy friendly text) are effective in improving digital health literacy! Read more: link.springer.com/article/10.1... #AcademicSky 🛟 🧪 🦘🎓
The Effects of a Short Video Intervention on Digital Health Literacy Skills: An Online Randomised Controlled Trial - Journal of General Internal Medicine
Background Social media has an influence on public health communication. There are growing concerns about digital health literacy, and how younger adults find good-quality health information online, a...
link.springer.com
Dr Melody Taba@melodytaba.bsky.social · last yr.🎥 We’re testing different video interventions (animation vs. TikTok delivered by pro science communicator) to see if they improve digital health literacy skills! Project is still under way, but read the protocol in Health Literacy & Communication Open: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... 🦘🎓 🛟
New open-access article: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... Please read if you're interested in: how academic libraries are responding to generative AI and technological disruption, working as reflective practitioners, and third-space professionals in higher education. #AcademicSky #booksky 🦘🎓
📱Interested in reaching young people with health communication via social media? 🤔 💡We co-designed 5 recommendations with young people and health communicators! Read thread or visit site for more: www.sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au/social-media... Article 🔗 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
✨ New special issue✨ I’m thrilled to be guest editing my first special issue, “Communicating with Young People” for Health Literacy and Communication Open alongside A/Prof Stephanie Partridge. If you’re working in youth health literacy or communication, we’d be delighted to see your work! 🔗 below
✨ New special issue✨ I’m thrilled to be guest editing my first special issue, “Communicating with Young People” for Health Literacy and Communication Open alongside A/Prof Stephanie Partridge. If you’re working in youth health literacy or communication, we’d be delighted to see your work! 🔗 below
I've said before that my focus is on media literacy for adults, since a) people DIDN'T have it in school, b) adults do things like vote RIGHT NOW. There IS good youth curriculum, though not always the will to use it. If you have kids or grandkids, here are a couple of options. (Or share this!)
I'm delighted to announce we've had another article emerge from our research on young people and social media. This article analyses the media's role in the lead up to the social media delay for U16s in Australia. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
New on my (NEW) personal blog! Health Literacy Glow-up #1: Usable Infographics. The three tips from this one: use relevant illustrations, write in active voice, and focus on action over facts. Sounds simple. Surprisingly rare in the real world. 🛟 😷 🧪 #academicsky #commsky
Health Literacy Glow-up: Usable Infographics
Use the Suitability Assessment of Materials to improve your infographics. 3 evidence-based tips: relevant illustrations, active voice, and action-oriented content.
samuelanimates.com
📢 Call for Interview Participants for PhD Project 🗣️ I am seeking interview participants who 💫 currently hold or have previously held beliefs that could be called conspiracy theories 💫. I am assessing how knowledge and belief systems are formed online.
If anyone’s teaching plans are disrupted today because #Canvas has been hacked, maybe this would be an opportune time to read and discuss an article by Cory Doctorow about platforms and enshittification, and reflect on how this applies to higher education ? #CanvasHack
Katy Pearce@katypearce.bsky.social · 3mo agoHoly shit. I was in Canvas and then all of a sudden, this showed up!
Influencers are spruiking these three tests on social media, but they risk doing more harm than good
Influencers are spruiking these three tests on social media, but they risk doing more harm than good
Experts warn of ‘over-diagnosis’ dangers as social media prompts the worried well to seek out unnecessary and expensive scans and blood tests * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Medical tests are marketed on social media as a way to empower people to take control of their health, but experts are warning to be wary of the harms influencers don’t mention. Three controversial tests – full-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, blood tests for testosterone levels and the Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) or “egg-timer” test, which surveys a woman’s egg count – are the focus of a campaign backed by the University of Sydney based on its own research trying to combat misinformation online. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
🔔 ICYMI Health literacy and digital health literacy profiles of final year Health and Physical Education pre-service teachers: a cross-sectional case study ✍️ Louisa R Peralta, Cassidy Kealy-Ashby, Rebecca Pagano, Vaughan Cruickshank OPEN ACCESS doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daag015
⚠️ Debunking misleading medical tests ⚠️ A new campaign from @sydney.edu.au will myth bust the need for full body MRI, AMH and testosterone testing for prevention. This research-driven campaign led by Dr Brooke Nickel encourages looking for #EvidencenotInfluence www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Influencers are promoting these three health tests – but they risk doing more harm than good
Experts warn of ‘over-diagnosis’ dangers as social media prompts the worried well to seek out unnecessary and expensive scans and blood tests
theguardian.com
Do you really need a full body MRI? 🤔 Listen to Dr Brooke Nickel de-bunk the need for this popular test using cold, hard evidence! ⚠️ #EvidencenotInfluence www.youtube.com/shorts/f4PC4... @sydney.edu.au @brookenickel.bsky.social @sydneyfmh-emcr.bsky.social @wiserhealthcare.bsky.social
Do you really need a full body MRI?
YouTube video by The University of Sydney
youtube.com
Researchers, are you studying public discourse on social media? If you are, check out our all-new @Communalytic.org research platform, which features a suite of easy-to-use social media data collectors & analyzers. #AcademicSky #ComSky #DiscourseAnalysis #LibrarySky #PhDSky #PolCom #ResearchSky
Communalytic Launches Major Platform Upgrade to Advance Social Media Research - Communalytic - A no-code computational social science research tool for studying online communities and public discourse...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 15, 2026 — Today, we’re excited to launch a new version of Communalytic, a leading platform for analyzing online communities and public discourse on social media. Designed ...
communalytic.org
Women’s screening preferences shift after being informed about the 2024 USPSTF breast cancer screening guideline - new paper by @tamarparmet.bsky.social @ldscherer.bsky.social @kirstenmccaffery.bsky.social me & others www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S073839912600114X?dgcid=coauthor
Women’s screening preferences shift after being informed about the 2024 USPSTF breast cancer screening guideline
In 2024 the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) revised its breast cancer screening (BCS) guidelines to recommend that all women scr…
sciencedirect.com
#PeerReview is indeed breaking down, but I believe we should build it back up instead of scrapping it entirely. It's how we ensure trust in science. What would make you more likely to review your colleagues' new research? 🧪 #SciPub #AcademicSky
The peer review system is breaking down. Here’s how we can fix it
Peer review is so integral to the scholarly system that research would grind to a halt without it.
theconversation.com
📢 ABI Communication Lab Research Pathways #Workshop Join us for insights into #research & #career pathways, #publishing + #conferences, and building your #network. 🗓 20 Feb ⏰ 9:30am–3:30pm 📍 Susan Wakil Health Building + Zoom Register here: events.humanitix.com/research-pat...
Do #socialmedia #platforms influence academic research? Little reason to assume they don’t. They fund research and control data access—amplifying industry influence across the research cycle. New comment w/ @freiling.bsky.social: www.nature.com/articles/s41... #DataAccess #ResearchIntegrity #DSA
Addressing social media platforms’ influence on academic research - Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
Social media platforms play a central role in shaping today’s information ecosystem, yet access to both their internal data and even publicly visible content remains tightly restricted for academic re...
nature.com
To address social media platforms' influence on academic research, @raffaelheiss.bsky.social and I draw on lessons learned from industry-academy collaborations in other fields. Industry influence can be subtle, so we need policy reforms, plus critical academic debates and clear ethical guidelines.
Raffael Heiss@raffaelheiss.bsky.social · 6mo agoDo #socialmedia #platforms influence academic research? Little reason to assume they don’t. They fund research and control data access—amplifying industry influence across the research cycle. New comment w/ @freiling.bsky.social: www.nature.com/articles/s41... #DataAccess #ResearchIntegrity #DSA