ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses guidelines for developing and recognizing reliable digital health information no matter the channel, whether it be Web 1.0, user-generated content (UGC) via social media, or mobile applications. Aside from Twitter, UGC such as Wikipedia articles, are important sources of health information and advice on the Internet. Regulatory agencies in Europe and in the United States have provided the drug industry with some guidelines about how to engage consumers, patients, and healthcare professionals (HCPs) via social media without violating the law. There are laws and industry self-regulatory guidelines in the United Kingdom that govern how pharma companies can use social media to communicate with health professionals. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) should confirm formally that, while it is not possible for manufacturers to monitor or correct all inaccurate information about their products on the Internet, such corrections by manufacturers in response to inaccurate postings will not be considered promotional labeling.
