| Social networking sites, mobile technologies and other information and communications technologies have become popular ways of connecting. The health information field is no exception; however, what are best practices and strategies to effectively use the affordances of these tools, and currently common uses of these changing media? This study examines both how new media are discussed and how tools such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Fropper, blogs, and Flickr are employed using HIV/AIDS as the health topic of focus. A content analysis of sources spanning academic, lay and professional content, in publications, news articles, and websites as well as Web 2.0 examples was conducted. The results show that tools can be interactive and can reach many, not only youth. Implications for practice include the need to effectively use the affect heuristic and emotion to impart messages, and to devote appropriate time and resources to these health communications tasks. |
