Practically since the internet was invented, people have been using it to try and figure out what ails them. And today, the practice is so widespread that it is practically ubiquitous. According to a recent Pew study, “80% of Internet users look for health information online, making medical inquiries the third most popular web-based pursuit, following only email and search engine use.”
In other words, whatever any experts say or do, the act of attempting to diagnose ourselves on the internet isn’t going anywhere.
But it would be a fair question to ask, though, if the internet is the right place to go. Are we helping ourselves or hurting ourselves with our attempt to put the medical system back in our hands?
Let’s take a look at the facts.
Continue reading The Danger (And Potential) Of Diagnosing Ourselves Online