Social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, not to mention the many ways that Internet users can vote on stories, just might save lives and perform the task informally that government agencies and foundations should be doing.

News can travel like a lightning rod through the various social networks, and, once out, news and information is impossible to suppress.  

Here's a case in point:

The ABC news headline reads "FDA Scrutinizes Acetaminophen's Liver Risk."  A local news article  in the Times Dispatch (Richmond, VA) carries the headline "Drug Makers hope FDA lays off acetaminophen"  and reports: "The makers of Tylenol, Excedrin and other medications tried to dissuade regulators from placing new restrictions on their popular painkillers, including possibly removing some of them form store shelves." 

Since I know about the potential life-threatening liver damage from Tylenol, as well as the FDA's reluctance to inhibit the flow of revenue to drug company coffers, I can predict that the FDA won't remove products from shelves (Vioxx had to be unavoidably attributed to thousands of deaths before it was pulled off the market). 

I also know that Tylenol has been studied in the U.K., and is a cause of needless deaths when combined with alcohol.

When I write a brief story such as this, it will be circulated to many more.  (See also our Survivor News story.)  Hundreds of other health advocates and scientists will circulate warnings to their readers and friends, with the effect of reducing the unnecessary use of this drug.  

The Tylenol/acetaminophen case is just one of thousands that have life-saving potential.  

 Of course, "snake oil" can be sold in the same way, skeptics will no doubt emphasize.  But consumers can easily detect the fallacies in claims when they aren't derived from a reliable source.  A bigger problem is knowing which "reliable sources" are being swayed by money or perks more than hard data.   Social media will no doubt help on this issue, as well.

The most critical issue regarding social media and health is the vetting of valid information and sound, helpful advice and not resorting to, encouraging, or even unintentionally supporting scare tactics.  Just as detrimental is the proliferation of "snake oil" and "miracle cures."   Readers may ultimately ignore valuable, life-preserving information because of the clogged cyberspace of bad products.

The solution?  Check out your sources and pay attention to bona fide experts.  Credentials aren't always a guarantee, however, since many prominent M.D.s and Ph.D. scientists are paid consultants.

One of my favorite sources is Russell Blaylock, M.D., who was not afraid to publicize the dangers of the artificial sweetener aspartame (Nutrasweet).  Send me your favorite sources!