title: Sharing sensitive personal health information through Facebook: the unintended consequences.
abstract: The purpose of this paper was to explore the types of sensitive health information posted by individuals through social network media sites such as Facebook. The researcher found several instances in which individuals, who could be identified by their user profiles, posted personal and sensitive health information related to mental and genetic disorders and sexually transmitted diseases. The data suggest that Facebook users should be made aware of the potential harm that may occur when sharing sensitive health information publicly through Facebook. Ethical considerations in undertaking such research are also examined.
authors: College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. househmo@ngha.med.sa
authors: Mowafa
authors: M
authors: Househ
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003142:Communication; D003146:Communications Media; D004989:Ethics; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018907:Privacy; D012650:Self Disclosure; D061108:Social Media; D012944:Social Support