Social internet sites as a source of public health information

Karl Vance; William Howe; Robert P Dellavalle

doi:10.1016/j.det.2008.11.010

Social internet sites as a source of public health information

Dermatol Clin. 2009 Apr;27(2):133-6, vi. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2008.11.010.

Authors

Karl Vance¹, William Howe, Robert P Dellavalle

Affiliation

¹ Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, PO Box 6510, Mail Stop F703, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.

PMID: 19254656
DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2008.11.010

Abstract

Social media websites, such as YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Second Life are rapidly emerging as popular sources of health information especially for teens and young adults. Social media marketing carries the advantages of low cost, rapid transmission through a wide community, and user interaction. Disadvantages include blind authorship, lack of source citation, and presentation of opinion as fact. Dermatologists and other health care providers should recognize the importance of social media websites and their potential usefulness for disseminating health information.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Dermatology*
Humans
Information Dissemination / methods*
Internet*
Marketing of Health Services*
Public Health*

Grants and funding

K-07 CA92550/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States