More Health = Better Health?

 

In her post for week 5, Katrina argues that, “new technologies are blurring the boundaries between the producer and the consumer, where the content is produced by the ‘players’ themselves.” And that opinion is reflected in Casey and Camille’s blog as well.

While it is true that technology can provide means of access to producing and assimilating vast amounts of information, we often question how much is grounded information, and what constitutes “misinformation” (Wyatt S. 2008). 

One example, often highlighted is the “Googlearchy”(Hindman, 2009), or “the rulership of Google”. We take for granted the processes in which search engines filter information for our results, often limiting our search to results found in the first two to three pages. 

Eysenbach and Kohler in their analysis found out that, “Google reports 150 million searches per day on all regional partner sites combined, which means 6.75 million health related searches per day in Google alone.” (2003, 229)


If you simply type “most effective” on Google, you will find in the “suggested” drop box, “most effective weight loss”, “most effective diet”, “most effective way to lose weight” and “most effective weight loss pill.” 

This example is just one of many that indicate the vast market out there for weight control. A simple look at the results in any of the search options will reveal just how many pseudo-drugs and even potentially dangerous drugs are available out there, ranging from “Acai Berries” to “Gastric Bands”.  

Yes, new media does facilitate the flow of health information. However, the question of “how healthy” would be more appropriate in such times.


References:

Leong, S. (2011). Lecture Notes: New Media, Health and Well-Being

 Lewis, T. (2006). Seeking health information on the internet: lifestyle choice or bad attack of cyberchondria? Media, Culture & Society, volume 28, issue 4: 521-539

Turner, Graeme. (2009). “Revenge of the Nerds : Digital Optimism and User Generated Content Online”, Ordinary people and the media : The demotic turn, London: Sage, pp.123-157.

Wyatt, S., Harris, R. and Wathen, N. (2008). Reflections on the Middle Space. In Mediating Health Information: The Go-Betweens in a Changing Socio-Technical Landscape, Sally Wyatt, Nadine Wathen and Roma Harris (eds), pp. 1-12. New York: Palgrave Macmillan

Blogs - 

Camille (2011), “Living in Media”, accessed on 8 April 2011
<http://camillekeating.tumblr.com/post/4331557192/living-in-media>

 Casey (2011), “Connecting, Narrating, Branding Me”, accessed on 8 April 2011
<http://caseybrealy.tumblr.com/>

Katrina (2011), “Produsers”, accessed on 8 April 2011
<http://katrina-amy.tumblr.com/post/4333577620/produsers>