Digital Media and Health

Since the 1980s, many digital technologies have been invented that allow people to learn about health, illness, and health care; seek medical advice; share information and support; and monitor and care for their bodies or those of people for whom they care. These media include search engines, information websites, blogs, wikis, online discussion forums, content curation and sharing platforms, video games, apps, wearable devices, and digital self-care technologies. This entry provides an overview of the major digital health technologies that are available, discusses the social structuring of the use of these technologies, and explores personal health data privacy and security issues.