Social Networks

The value of being connected and transparent is so high that the roadbumps of privacy issues are much lower in actual experience than people’s fears - Reid Hoffman, founder and executive chairman of LinkedIn

Social Networks
Social Networks

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How Facebook Is Transforming Science and Public Health

FACEBOOK HAS ENCOMPASSED many things... From a subtler version of a dating site to a gaming platform and a messaging hub. We’ve seen Facebook and its billion-plus users play a part in influencing politics, the form advertising takes, and how retail happens. Now we're starting to see Facebook begin to impact science and public health, and it could be Facebook's biggest industry-changing opportunity yet.

The logic is a simple one: Everyone on Facebook... will have an illness at some point in their lives. And, as Facebook's social creatures are in the habit of doing, that mass of people will share their experience battling disease, ask questions of their friends, and field advice from…

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 How Facebook Is Transforming Science and Public Health

Physicians, who you might think would love to use Facebook as a natural hub to communicate with their patients, have mostly shied away from it and other social media platforms to interact with patients because of concerns over professionalism and legal liabilities due to patient confidentiality laws. But there are signs that the healthcare crowd is warming up to Facebook, in particular research scientists are increasingly using Facebook as a tool.

HealthUnlocked

We're inspiring millions of people to connect with others with similar health backgrounds to share their experiences.

MedHelp

The world's largest health community sharing their experiences.

PatientsLikeMe

Our goal is to enable people to share information that can improve the lives of patients diagnosed with life-changing diseases. To make this happen, we've created a platform for collecting and sharing real world, outcome-based patient data (patientslikeme.com) and are establishing data-sharing partnerships with doctors, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, research organizations, and non-profits.

Smart Patients

An online community where patients and their families learn from each other.

Young Survival Coalition

The Young Survival Coalition's educational programs are designed to reach not only our core audience of young women affected by breast cancer but also members of the medical community, friends, family members, caregivers, the breast health community, healthy young women and the general public.

Cancer Support Community

Transforming the cancer experience through community and connection.

CancerConnect

CancerConnect is a comprehensive online resource center and social network for cancer patients and their caregivers. Since 1996, it has been providing best in class, disease-specific patient information, covering relevant topics such as latest treatments, management of side effects, clinical trials, and support groups.

Change.org

Change.org is the world's largest petition platform, empowering people everywhere to create the change they want to see. We live in an amazing time, when the opportunity to make a difference is greater than ever before. Gathering people behind a cause used to be difficult, requiring lots of time, money, and a complex infrastructure. But technology has made us more connected than ever.

DailyStrength

DailyStrength.org is the largest, most comprehensive health network of people sharing their advice, tratment experiences, and support.

Diabetes Daily

Diabetes Daily is the web's most active, grass-roots diabetes community. Thousands of friendly people congregate every day to ask questions and get answers - usually in minutes, share real-time support in Live Chat and meet friends who actually understand what you're going through.

Figure 1

View and discuss real-world medical cases with healthcare professionals from every specialty on Figure 1.

Network Effect

The Internet is said to show our common humanity. Through its data, it is said to provide a kind of omniscience, and through its social networks, a deeper sense of connection. For those without access, it holds the promise of a better life. For those of us who use it a lot, its power to affect our lives is clear — but what is the nature of that effect? How does it change our behavior? The way we see others? The way we see ourselves?

Patient's Lounge

We are a site created by patients, caregivers, and loved ones sharing knowledge on personal medical experiences. We have information on patient-specific experiences—from personal tips on recovering from gall bladder surgery to a child's perspective on moving her parents into assisted living. Our goal is to be the best place on the web to exchange real-life experiences on medical conditions

Positive Singles

This is a warm-hearted and exclusive community for singles and friends with STDs. Here you can get on with your life and meet new friends, partners or potential spouses, or learn about STD medical information.

RedHotMamas

The Red Hot Mamas Menopause Support Community connects patients, families, friends and caregivers for support and inspiration. This community is sponsored by Red Hot Mamas, an Inspire trusted partner.

RxPx

We make it easy and fast for doctors to help patients access life changing therapies and get the support they need to achieve their best outcomes.

SparkPeople

SparkPeople's healthy living tools and content will help you find the right path, but our Community will help keep you on that path. Get motivation and support while you have fun meeting people like you who are trying to get healthy.

Tudiabetes.org

Tu Diabetes is an Online Community where the members help each other out, educate ourselves and share the steps we take every day to stay healthy while living with this very serious condition.

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