Social media is a broad Internet-based mechanism which permits human beings and society to come together and give or exchange information and ideas, private messages, pictures, and sometimes to work together with other users in a real period (Ventola, 2014). Social media is also known as “social networking” or “Web 2.0” (Ventola, 2014). It is a means of accommodating various aims for each user. According to Ventola (2014), social media sites perform these functions such as: . 1 Gathering of information such as Wikipedia. Virtual actuality and gaming surroundings such as Second Life. Professional networking such as LinkedIn. Social networking: Example includes Facebook, MySpace, Google Plus, Twitter. Sharing in media such as YouTube and Flickr. Content production such as Tumblr, Blogger, and Twitter. (Ventola, 2014). Social media can benefit health care in a variety of ways, including fostering professional connections, promoting timely communication with patients and family members, and educating and informing consumers and health care professionals. …show more content…
Social media provides nurses with a way to express their feelings, and reflect or seek support from friends, colleagues, peers or virtually anyone on the Internet. Journaling and reflective practice are recognized as effective tools in nursing practice, and the Internet provides an alternative media for nurses to engage in these helpful activities. Without a sense of caution, however, these understandable needs and potential benefits may result in the nurse disclosing too much information, and violating patient privacy and confidentiality. Health care organizations that utilize electronic and social media typically have policies governing employee use of such media in the workplace. Components of these policies often address personal use of employer computers and equipment, personal computing during work hours, and the types of websites that can be accessed from employer computers. Health care organizations also maintain careful control of websites maintained by or associated with the organization, limiting what may be posted to the site and by whom. Social networks can be a major determinant in determining how healthy a community could be (Dozier, Hacker, Silberberg, & Ziegahn, 2011). They are very relevant to each facet of community engagement (Dozier et al., 2011). According to Dozier et al. (2011), social networking creates public assistance that supplies a buffer against the pressure that could cause health injury. For these reasons, the health professionals have seen the necessity in networking with one another utilizing the social media for easy ways in improving health issues in the society. Social Networking and its Benefits in Public Health Organization American Public Health Association (APHA) is one of the professional organization that posts on social media. This association connects with peers like the upcoming conference on the annual meeting that will hold in Denver, Colorado this year (APHA, 2014). I was able to know this information by following the posts of APHA constantly on social media. Benefits of following APHA social media posts include: Professional Networking The most popular social media sites for physicians are those where they can participate in online communities, listen to experts, and network and communicate with colleagues regarding patient issues. (APHA, 2014). The use of social media by pharmacists also frequently focuses on communication with …show more content…
Uses include communicating with the community and patients; enhancing organizational visibility; marketing products and services; establishing a venue for acquiring news about activities, promotions, and fund-raising; providing a channel for patient resources and education; and providing customer service and support. It has been estimated that 70% of U.S. health care organizations use social media, with Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube being the most popular. Blogs are also used by many medical centers and hospitals. . J Nurs Educ. 2014;19:1–6.