Risks and benefits of social computing as a healthcare tool

Abstract

Cybercitizen describes a frequent user of the Internet or in other terms, a member of an online community (cybercommunity). This digital space can be used to participate in educational, economical and cultural activities. Social computing is an approach to Information Technology (IT) that is used to create virtual teams across different organizations or communities which enhances collaboration, collection and sharing of information. It allows different stakeholders to come together in order to communicate and share information in a more effective way using cybercommunities. Individuals are increasingly making use of social computing applications as healthcare tools. This paper describes how social computing applications are being used as healthcare tools. Benefits associated with such use are described and the risks highlighted. This information may help raise awareness in terms of the benefits that individuals and medical professionals can reap from employing social computing applications as healthcare tools, whilst also cautioning them to consider the risks associated with such use.