The American Public Health Association seems to be in catch-up mode, and is now trying to quickly compile information about the use of social media by public health agencies and programs. The announcement is below. Let them know what they have been missing!
Blogs. Twitter. Facebook. RSS feeds. SMS texts. Wikis. These are just a few of the social media applications that are changing our world and redefining how we communicate information. To get a better idea of what this means for the public health and safety sector, the American Public Health Association is conducting a brief survey on the use of social media tools in risk communication, emergency response and public health. The data collected will provide information on what is currently being done and will serve to guide the creation of an upcoming report on social media best practices and strategy. Please take a few moments to let us know the degree to which you have used social media in your work. The questions aim to learn about your experiences using social media in public emergency situations, as well as in routine, non-emergency communications. The survey should take no more than five minutes of your time. Please respond by midnight on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.
They may also want to refer to these series of posts on social media, mobile thoughts and m-change. Those accounts of public health applications of social media could help provide some context for the report. I will reserve judgment on where the organization sits on the diffusion curve, but at least they are exploring it.
No I can't -
Late Majority: the group of people who are most sensitive to peer pressure and norms, yet very cautious about change of any kind; they seek to minimize uncertainty of outcomes and want to see the proof of relative advantage locally – not read about it on web sites or see it on television.
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