Patient Privacy in the Digital Age and Disclosure on Social Media

Big Brother has nothing on Mark Zuckerberg. Who needs surveillance cameras when over 1.3 billion people willingly disclose who they are, where they live, what they do for a living and the names (and preferences) of their children, closest friends and pets? Going forward, we can expect even more digital disclosure of personal information, some of it quite sensitive. Facebook and other high-tech giants, most notable Google and Apple, are looking to the health-care field to drive growth. The social media giant is reportedly developing health and wellness apps, as well as building a virtual, patient support communities.