Government uses social media for public health

The government has begun to apply Web 2.0 technology to public health, providing information and advice about everything from AIDS and the H1N1 influenza to cholesterol levels and childhood immunizations.

OhMyGov.com has identified a number of sites, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's efforts on YouTube that have given attention this winter to flu and swine flu prevention, as well as on HIV/AIDS, cancer, and childhood vaccines. One video on childhood immunizations places strong emphasis on the point that there are no studies that have shown connections between vaccines and autism.

The Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with a nonprofit called HealthySocial to produce a Facebook application. The user picks a cartoon character, says whether they have gotten the vaccine yet, and if so, what the experience was like. This information can then be posted on the Facebook wall belonging to the user and friends.

There also is a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on YouTube and a Twitter feed from the U.S. Department of Agriculture with nutrition advice, including reminders to eat whole grains and to avoid using vitamin tablets as a substitute for a well-balanced diet.

For more on Web 2.0 and health:
- see this OhMyGov.com article

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