I use that title with some chagrin, because I have come to really dislike the term “social media”. Health Populi has a post on a recent study by iCrossing which found that 34% of Americans turn to online communities and social networks for healthcare related information.
The data in the report are quite interesting. I found it interesting that users tended to go the social route when they were hunting for specific pieces of information, which makes a lot of sense to me, since that is the layer the social graph adds on to general search results. What the data also suggests is that sites like iMedix and Trusera are going to be quite successful by bringing people together around common conditions or information. Support groups have always made sense online, but the trend towards seeking out others for information is one that jumps out.
Online health networks are one of the more useful applications of Web 2.0. I strongly believe that while there are some really good business opportunities there, the social relevance is also important. As long as sites providing health services can prevent people from gaming the system or taking advantage of folk you might be a little desperate, I have a feeling that as our level of knowledge grows as a society, the utility of healthcare-related social sites and communities will only grow. In the meantine, the responsibility of the scientific and medical community to educate and make people aware of the pitfalls of limited information only grows
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