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In May 2011, the Pew Internet and American Life Project published the Social Life of Health Information.  This study updated Pew's previous 2009 research on how Americans are using the Web and social media technologies for health.  Overall, Pew found that the majority of Americans are turning to the Web to seek and find health information. However, despite the popularity of Facebook and other social networks, many are not using these sites to exchange and research health content. Pew's findings are in sharp contrast to previous research and conventional wisdom indicating Facebook is a popular health destination and resource for many Americans.

If Facebook is so popular (Pew reports that 62% of Web users frequent sites like Facebook and MySpace), why are people shying away from sharing health content with others on the site?  To answer this question, the Path of the Blue Eye Project commissioned a national survey designed to tease out some of the reasons why Americans are reluctant to exchange health information on Facebook.  We found:

• 68% of Facebook users have not and would not share their personal health information on the site. The most commonly cited reason for refusing to share: "it's no one's business but my own (86%)." 
• Privacy concerns may be one reason many refuse to share.  39% of non-sharers were afraid strangers would find their health information and 32% worried marketers might use it to sell products and services.

To help health marketing communications professionals understand how Facebook is being used in health, we have published an infographic that: 

• Illustrates the ongoing privacy issues associated with Facebook
• Provides an overview of the latest research on how users of the social network are (not) sharing health information

This infographic also features data from a Project-produced research report, "Just Between Us: Facebook, Privacy and Health."  This report is available free of charge to individuals making regular contributions to the Project's knowledge community, Living the Path.  Learn more about how to access this report here.  (Read the press release about the report.)

For media coverage of this study and information regarding many of the data sources used to develop this infographic please see the "Additional Resources" section below.

Facebook, Privacy and Health Infographic (click to enlarge)
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