It depends on what the online community subject is, if it is a site whereby health problems can be discussed with other people who have suffered form the same illness or by medical professions belonging to such a group can be seen as empowering however suicidal communities are also online and what has be said about these?
However relying on online advice is not always effective false advice might be given and which out proper consultation by a medical professional can cause certain implications. The other thing is that it limits people’s everyday skills with the crutch of the online community this can stop people making ‘real friends’ and instead might find themselves surrounded by virtual ones.
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Yes, there's a real need for people to be offered help sorting 'wheat from chaff' online isn't there?
ReplyDeleteOnline is some of the craziest, dangerous, and un-tested advice you can imagine.
But you can also find the best of human expertise (e.g. some American teaching hospitals have all their diagnostic advice online -specially written for lay people to understand.
This could be better-informed than one's GP -and in some parts of the world (India springs to mind) where you can buy any drugs over the counter from pharmacists who don't necessarily have any better info than the drug manufacturers' sales pitch. That American info might save your life?