I am not excited about the social networking sites, but I have discovered that a number of my workplace colleagues are members of Linked In. I considered the idea that our pediatric consumer health library might have a MySpace page to attract teens, but quickly realized our Legal Affairs department would never allow it. Our Teen Transitions team is starting a web site to encourage our chronically ill teens to learn how to transition to adult care and adult life, and the Legal department was very concerned that we might include teen chat or unmoderated communications of any kind. Violations of privacy, good taste, etc. was considered inevitable with teens involved, and the hospital would not want its name and logo associated with that.
I am reminded of my sister when she was in high school. She spent long hours talking to strangers on the CB radio. It seemed a collosal waste of time to me then, and most of what was said on the airwaves was boring and worthless. Much of the MySpace and FaceBook traffic seems equally purposeless. Linked In, on the other hand, seemed almost too purposeful, with members on the make. I was approached quickly by a couple of people who want me in their virtual rolodex.
My hospital’s network blocks MySpace and FaceBook so employees won’t waste time on them. Some of our patients don’t appreciate that, because they are very dependent on their MySpace page for social connections. We encourage the use of CarePages instead.
Tags: CarePages, Caring Bridge, CB radio, FaceBook, MySpace, social networking, teens
