Once disparaged by mainstream media as the technical equivalent to hypochondria, cyberchondria has been elevated to a less belittling term by the folks who do the Harris Polls. As early as 2002, Harris Interactive Health Care News forsaw the evolution of health care via the internet.
"As “cyberchondriacs” (people who use the Internet for health or health care) continue to increase both in number and online skills, they will surely use the Internet in many new ways. More people will go online not only to seek information, but also to purchase drugs and to communicate with their doctors. They are also likely to visit health care sites developed by organizations outside their own countries. But the pace and growth of these activities will vary from country to country depending on Internet penetration, local regulations, and public demand. "
Furthermore, the population of that place called Cyberchondria is large and growing. And it affects markets. Oh, yes, money is involved. "Cyberchondriacs are U.S. adults who have ever searched for health information online...that country may be fictional but the market size it represents is very real and measured in billions."
I don't think the mainstream media has gotten the message, yet. For Cyberchondriacs, the Internet Is the Enemy.
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