What do posts on social media say about our health?

Posted by University of Pennsylvania on February 12, 2018

Every day people leave behind their “digital footprint,” posting on an array of social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others. But what do these posts, taken together, say about our health? Further, how do posts on social media inform researchers about risk for certain diseases? What would an optimal surveillance tool look like to study social media behaviors, and what factors regarding data privacy and sharing do we as public health researchers need to consider?

Join us as Dr. Raina Merchant, Director of the Center for Digital Health at Penn, begins to explore answers to these questions. Through her leadership with the Center for Digital Health at Penn, Dr. Merchant works to advance science by researching the implications of the advancement of digital health technology for patient engagement and care delivery. The Center also serves as an incubator for evaluating and promoting digital health ideas and solutions for providers and patients at Penn Medicine.

In this important talk, Dr. Merchant will discuss what public health researchers can learn by studying digital footprints, and will touch on the important public health considerations regarding data accessibility, privacy, data use, and data sharing. In addition, Dr. Merchant will share what an optimal surveillance tool looks like and how it would perform.

Thursday, February 15, 2018
12:00-1:30 PM

Bodek Lounge in Houston Hall
3417 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

Light Lunch

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-do-posts-on-social-media-say-about-our-health-tickets-42570293895