Social media, online social networks and apps for smartphones e tablets are changing the way to communicate health and health issues to consumers and health professionals. Medical societies, health organizations, hospitals and medical centers have included Facebook fan pages, Twitter profiles and YouTube channels in their communication strategies in order to reach a broader, more diverse audience potentially interested in what they usually publish. These tools provide also new mechanism to foster engagement and partnership with consumers, to change their behaviors and to fight against unhealthy lifestyles. For these reasons they should be to included in health promotion programs.
Keywords: Social media, social network, Facebook, Twitter, health promotion, smartphone