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Mix the vast energy and attain of social media, the limitless resources of websites and apps, and the unquenchable thirst for health information and motivation. The result’s a powerful device for researchers, health care suppliers and sufferers. But like many facets of the web, it may be a mixed blessing.

“Social media are an unbelievable product to offer support and promote good information in ways we couldn’t do earlier than,” stated Dr. Raina Merchant, director of the Penn Medicine Center for Digital Health in Philadelphia. “They can be a highly effective way to understand what sufferers are talking about and what their considerations are.”

Her research has included analyzing Facebook posts to foretell medical and psychological problems, using Yelp to guage drug therapy facilities, and helping clinicians use social media to higher understand their patients’ experiences.

In analyzing millions of health -related tweets, nonetheless, she encountered a …