CDC Uses Social Media to Spread the Word
Nov 8th, 2009 | By Gene A. Wright | Category: Breakout Topics, Feature, Information Technology, Innovation, Knowledge Management, Technology StrategyThanks Chris
The CDC is using Social Media to get the word out about what is happening related to H1N1 etc.
According to the CDC website, ” Help us spread the word and prevent novel H1N1 flu by sharing interactive tools with friends, co-workers and family members!”
Specific Website for H1N1 and Social Media
Seems like a great way to spread the word (I could not resist). What do you think?
I’ve been spending time on the CDC website this fall to find current information on the flu, it’s spread and the CDC recommendations for businesses. As a Human Resource professional, it was my responsibility to develop employee communication and alternative attendance policies for our company for this flu season – therefore, to help to stay current I’ve been following CDC flu tweet for a few months, as well as @WisconsinPanFlu. Great idea for the CDC especially when there are health emergencies & they need to get communication out.
I think it is interesting that the social media tools are being used. I believe it has become another avenue of communication. I look at the streaming media that is now prevalent on the internet. Marketing companies have had to adapt to the different trend for a while now. The internet is very viral (no pun intended). Utilizing interactive pages, downloadable wallpapers, and tweets are just some of the techniques now being used. The younger generation is very adept to using this type of channel. The CDC has a task of informing the public. Using this type of marketing just adds to the likelihood a segment is reached. It seems different but when looked at is perfectly logical.
Viral marketing- I think this is a great way to spread information and reach exponential amounts of viewers in a short period of time. This is very important for the CDC because they often have crucial information that our population needs to know!
I don’t actively seek out info on H1N1 or other health issues so I think this is a great method for the CDC to reach out and inform low effort information seekers.
It’s nice to see a government sponsored agency actually taking advantage of modern cost effective communication tools. Social media recourses such as facebook and twitter only cost the user the time in which the put into them. CDC can communicate disease outbreaks and critical health concerns to people much faster through social media than previous communication methods such as advertisements, medical flyers, and local media.
A hot topic on social media may actually spreasd faster than the virus itself! This is definately a good use of the new social networks to spread a message.
The CDC is a great example of an organization that has an essential need to communicate with the public. As such, I believe it is part of their responsibility to keep current on methods of communication that are popular and widely used by the public. I think this is a good example of them doing just that.
This is an innovative way to increase education. Not only does it make it easy for people to pass information to friends and family members but it might also be more effective in reaching young people. When dealing with H1N1 outbreaks, it is especially important that middle school students, high school students and college students know how to prevent passing the virus as these groups are in close proximity to each other and tend to engage in more habits that easily pass on the virus (e.g., sharing drinks). Using such things as online videos, widgets, and mobile information will likely be a more attractive for them to receive information. Also, these things can make learning more fun and entertaining by offering the information through more attention grabbing methods such as the quizzes and videos.
I think this a good idea in order to inform the public about illnesses and what a great way to do it through mobile devices. Because of the increase popularity of mobile technology, I think a lot more people will be able to get information from the CDC and be more aware of what is going on. This is great way for the CDC to sent out mass messages about important issues with regard to health concerns and illnesses in a faster, more efficient way.
Kudos to the CDC for staying with recent trends on communication. I think that is the most effective way for them to use their resources. What better way to reach the masses is there? If only the rest of the government could be so effective.
I think that the CDC made a smart move by communicating some of their important messages via social media. Most people in the U.S. and the rest of the industrialized world are using social networking and other related media to communicate on a everyday basis, why not use it to share knowledge about the H1N1 flu. It is good to see government run agencies taking advantage of the technology that is available.
This is a prime example of using today’s tools to promote well-being. I feel like this should get more attention though, it seems as though our government has no good way to communicate with the public, except via media which tends to get manipulated to show a certain side. Instead of falling back on traditional methods to get the word out, the CDC has gone above and beyound to reach out to us in forms we can easily read and stay in touch. Good job!
This IS the most effective way to spread the word. With a situation as big as this one, or at least it was, it’s very important that the latest is shared with the public. Obviously the tv, radio and internet (very general) have been means of spreading the news for a long time, however other social media such as Twitter, Blogs, YouTube videos, RSS feeds and many more are a very proactive way to get the word out.
I agree with Gagi above! Social media is basically used by almost everyone everywhere. It’s great to see that businesses are starting to see the impact it is able to create through social media. It is an efficient cost-effective way to get the word out and to spread awareness. Social media is pretty hard to avoid, so start embracing it!
I think this is a great idea. Most people use social media, especially Gen Y. This makes it easier and more likely that they will become more involved in social issues, become more educated, and give them the ability to react when needed.
This shows how far social media has come in a relatively short time. It is an excellent tool for reaching a large base of the population with minimal cost/effort, as many people check their Facebook/Twitter account more than they check their personal email.
This is a great idea. Social media has become a very powerful communication tool is today’s world fairly quickly. People may not always read the newspaper, but they are always checking Facebook and Twitter accounts. This could be the start of a new trend.