Alice Gets Sick in Facebookland: Challenges in Digital Literacy for Health 2.0
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Abstract
Background
The aim of this study is to evaluate what challenges do Facebook Groups users with poor levels of Digital Literacy encounter when discussing severe medical conditions in Health 2.0 contexts. Do they act like a modern "Alice in cyberland"? In this paper, a novel concept of experienced-based learning aimed at improving Digital Literacy for Health 2.0 environments will be delineated. The need of international-wide educational programs addressing the Digital "Illiteracy 2.0" is documented.
By way of a background, relevant experienced-based literature were combined to picture the general criticism that have been observed in the last ten years, showing that privacy, security and surveillance discourses fail to protect citizens and patients online, particularly in social media and web 2.0 environments.
Methods
A survey was conducted to assess the ability of the sample (n=342) to define terms, recognize threatening situations, and opportunities while visiting a selected number of Facebook's groups discussing health care related issues in the field of transplants and organ donation. Also, experience-learning attitudes and behaviors were accounted to test the short-term efficacy of an educational model aimed at improving Digital Literacy 2.0. The sample was recruited via online "snowball" method.
Results
Preliminary results clearly show that Facebook Group users are rarely aware of online risks, and are not proficient in protecting their privacy. This is particularly relevant when discussing serious health matters. In spite of the fact that the sample perceives password-protected environments as safe, in 92% of the cases they are not aware that Facebook public Groups discussions can be easily accessed by profit-oriented third parties. None of those interviewed were aware that their individual profiles can be commodified by Facebook itself. Moreover, 100% of the interviewed admitted to have registered to the popular social network without reading the "terms and conditions ". The majority agreed that the experience of learning more about their privacy, security and surveillance has changed their perception, and will modify their online behavior. For example, 76% of the sample expressed the intention to "clean" the contents of their Facebook account and 92% of the interviewed agreed when asked if educational programs in forms of tutorial should be administrated to Health 2.0 users from policy makers or online service providers, including Facebook.
Conclusions
Poor Digital Literacy in Health 2.0 environments can be highly challenging for privacy, security, and commodification of personal data. When people act in Facebook Groups discussing severe medical conditions, poor levels of Digital Literacy are observed. Our findings reinforce the need for vast educational programs of Digital Literacy 2.0 at the same strength of alphabetization. This empirical case study frames a novel concept of experienced-based learning model in Health 2.0 environments, where a leading role of policy makers and marketing oriented agents - including Facebook - is expected, particularly in tomorrow’s internet-saturated society.
The aim of this study is to evaluate what challenges do Facebook Groups users with poor levels of Digital Literacy encounter when discussing severe medical conditions in Health 2.0 contexts. Do they act like a modern "Alice in cyberland"? In this paper, a novel concept of experienced-based learning aimed at improving Digital Literacy for Health 2.0 environments will be delineated. The need of international-wide educational programs addressing the Digital "Illiteracy 2.0" is documented.
By way of a background, relevant experienced-based literature were combined to picture the general criticism that have been observed in the last ten years, showing that privacy, security and surveillance discourses fail to protect citizens and patients online, particularly in social media and web 2.0 environments.
Methods
A survey was conducted to assess the ability of the sample (n=342) to define terms, recognize threatening situations, and opportunities while visiting a selected number of Facebook's groups discussing health care related issues in the field of transplants and organ donation. Also, experience-learning attitudes and behaviors were accounted to test the short-term efficacy of an educational model aimed at improving Digital Literacy 2.0. The sample was recruited via online "snowball" method.
Results
Preliminary results clearly show that Facebook Group users are rarely aware of online risks, and are not proficient in protecting their privacy. This is particularly relevant when discussing serious health matters. In spite of the fact that the sample perceives password-protected environments as safe, in 92% of the cases they are not aware that Facebook public Groups discussions can be easily accessed by profit-oriented third parties. None of those interviewed were aware that their individual profiles can be commodified by Facebook itself. Moreover, 100% of the interviewed admitted to have registered to the popular social network without reading the "terms and conditions ". The majority agreed that the experience of learning more about their privacy, security and surveillance has changed their perception, and will modify their online behavior. For example, 76% of the sample expressed the intention to "clean" the contents of their Facebook account and 92% of the interviewed agreed when asked if educational programs in forms of tutorial should be administrated to Health 2.0 users from policy makers or online service providers, including Facebook.
Conclusions
Poor Digital Literacy in Health 2.0 environments can be highly challenging for privacy, security, and commodification of personal data. When people act in Facebook Groups discussing severe medical conditions, poor levels of Digital Literacy are observed. Our findings reinforce the need for vast educational programs of Digital Literacy 2.0 at the same strength of alphabetization. This empirical case study frames a novel concept of experienced-based learning model in Health 2.0 environments, where a leading role of policy makers and marketing oriented agents - including Facebook - is expected, particularly in tomorrow’s internet-saturated society.
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