Social Networking and Health

The rise of social networking has revolutionised how people communicate on a daily basis. In a world where more people are connecting to the internet, social networking services create an immediate communication link between users. Social networking sites provide multiple services which include emailing, instant messaging, uploading files, gaming and finding friends. Just as social networking has become a more popular method of communication in recent years, the ways in which people look after our health has also changed. People do not just rely singly on medical expert’s views anymore. They actively search for information on their own accord through the internet. Social Networking gives users both the option to gather, provide and comment on information. This research paper looks into if and how social networking can be successfully used within the health arena. DOI: 10.4018/jide.2013040104 IG I G LO BA L P RO OF