Harber, Philip; Leroy, Gondy
INTRODUCTION
The Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) revolutionized information and data availability. The early WWW was one-directional; information spread from one website to a multitude of readers. Following this ‘static’ phase, Web 2.0 added user-generated content and social interaction. Social media both increase the scope of available data and provide new channels for sharing information. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and blogs are examples with impact on all aspects of modern personal life (e.g. Meetups and online dating) and business (e.g. Amazon) in both developed and developing countries. They create global awareness and interaction.
In medicine, the paternalistic patient–physician relationship has changed as patients inform themselves using information from many online sources including other patients. Health professionals themselves use the WWW to interact with their patients and with their peers. The WWW increasingly accumulates information from and about the public. Using electronic rather than print media, these methods very rapidly disseminate information from a single source to many persons. They are a platform for peer-to-peer (many-to-many) communication and a rich source of data for monitoring population health. Social media support research in two ways – analysis of publicly available WWW information not primarily intended for research and, second, through direct interaction, surveys, and experiments between the public and the researchers.
