The Power of Social Tagging for Information Sharing

Recently, I found out that I have to undergo spinal surgery again. Although it is not a huge surprise, it is still concerning. Immediately, the information search began- trying to find the best hospital, the best surgeon, the best approach to the procedure. Yes, I could go to the individual practice and facility pages, but of course, most of the reviews were filtered, and only the “best” reviews appeared. However, my Social Media and Informatics classes have taught me some of the advantages of seeking out information on social media. So, I began on Facebook, no doubt. Search term: Lumbar spinal fusion surgery. Several hundred social media groups address the subject. I immediately started clicking on some of the “public” groups just to see what I could find. 

No, not all of the information was based on professional advice or opinion (although some doctors chimed in on the subject). That was not necessarily what I was seeking. I wanted to hear actual experiences interactions with surgeons and hospitals. I wanted to read about other people's healing experiences, complications, follow-ups, and any additional relevant information. So, I started digging deeper to see which practices and surgeons some of these individuals used. Several hours later (yes, hours), I began to find actual reviews and information on the surgeons I am interested in possibly using for my procedure. I still have not decided who I will go with or what approach to take, but I certainly have a much better perspective on actual experiences people had with the surgeons and hospitals I am pursuing. 

So, is there a moral to this story? Perhaps. There is plenty of helpful information through social tagging and bookmarking, but one must know what they are looking for and understand the multiple biases that may be encountered. 

Is this marketing? Well, it seems like it could be free marketing for some of these physicians, but in reality, it is not. No one is getting paid to share this information (that we know of). It is not for-profit, and nothing is expected in return.  Instead, the idea is simply to share and inform.