tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8550428.post3696352667809811206..comments2024-03-27T01:34:23.434-04:00Comments on Pharma Marketing Blog: Fair Social Media Practice Principles: Rules for Third-Party Engagement in Patient/Physician Social NetworksVladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114063498108633047noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8550428.post-11516069864633107022011-07-07T23:58:30.377-04:002011-07-07T23:58:30.377-04:00Sermo seems to be very much alive. There were a fe...Sermo seems to be very much alive. There were a few histrionics from an orthopedist. But only, presumably, because he had overlooked the fundamentals of a free-to-physician website. Or just likes to sensationalise and attention-grab like so many of its users.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8550428.post-75759788132780840552011-06-10T14:04:00.943-04:002011-06-10T14:04:00.943-04:00SM sites definitely should have a privacy policies...SM sites definitely should have a privacy policies that cover that. Under FTC regulations, these policies are promises to customers and if sa ite owner violates the policy they can be prosecuted under FTC law.<br /><br />But what I would like to see is a promise from SM site owners about other issues such as how they moderate discussions and correct misinformation or re-use content posted by users. <br /><br />Health-related SM sites can be rife with misinformation and become dangerous. I'm not in favor of "correcting" misinformation by deleting it without permission from the poster. Who determines if the information is wrong. I'm in favor of a policy that says the site moderators can post "corrections" to misinformation just like anyone else can. But leave the original information on the site. <br /><br />Another variation of the policy could be to delete the "misinformation" with permission from the original poster with a note as to why the information was deleted and with whose permission.<br /><br />There are all kinds of other situations that arise in online communities that require policies to deal with in a well-mannered way. The Sermo case is an example -- who can copy posts and mine the site? What rights do the original posters have regarding the "content" they create on the site? Do the site owners ask permission to use this content for any reason whatsoever or are there limitations? That should be part of the policy too.<br /><br />In this way, SM site owners promise how they will maintain and use the content provided by users -- even content that is non-identifiable as to the poster. Privacy only becomes an issue on sites that require users to provide personal information when signing on but allow them to be anonymous on the site. Many sites operate this way. They are obliged to protect & keep private the personal information you provide but usually not the content you post in open forums. <br /><br />You may think it is obvious that content you post in forums is NOT private, but I guarantee many people do not realize this. Or they do not realize how the site's tools allow the content to be shared over other networks. Shouldn't users be made more aware of that? I for one am a bit confused about how all these social networks are tied together -- I can log in to different sites and content I publish on Twitter can end up somewhere I don't expect.<br /><br />Anyway, just some further thoughts.PharmaGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10211557578124130640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8550428.post-13200853488776620612011-06-10T13:27:22.850-04:002011-06-10T13:27:22.850-04:00I think there should be some sort of regulation ma...I think there should be some sort of regulation mandating that social networking websites explain in plain English how and why their clients' information will be used.Annahttp://www.redbamboomedispa.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8550428.post-30985131044255334012011-06-10T09:54:53.796-04:002011-06-10T09:54:53.796-04:00Brad,
I agree that Sermo is not hiding its busine...Brad,<br /><br />I agree that Sermo is not hiding its business model from users.<br /><br />However, they don't link to "About Us" in the Create Account box, but they do link to the Terms of Service page. So that's why I didn't -- and I expect docs don't -- look at the About Us page when registering.<br /><br />What Sermo and other social networks really should do, IMHO, is add a short statement such as what you cited from the About Us page right there in the sign-up box.<br /><br />This situation is akin to the so-called "one-click rule" that pharma marketers always assumed was accepted by the FDA; ie, all that was necessary to comply with FDA regs was to have safety info one click away in branded Rx drug ads.<br /><br />Similarly, having disclosure info just "one-click" away may seem adequate, but it really isn't. <br /><br />Of course, neither FDA nor FTC require any SM rules disclosure of any sort -- YET! I am talking about best practices here and self-regulation.PharmaGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10211557578124130640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8550428.post-73156084359288483512011-06-10T09:40:40.924-04:002011-06-10T09:40:40.924-04:00I have to admit to being surprised that physicians...I have to admit to being surprised that physicians did not / do not know about Sermo's business model. I have always thought that they are very up front about it. <br /><br />On the About Us page (http://sermo.com/about/introduction) they clearly state:<br /><br />"The Business Model<br />Sermo is free to practicing physicians. Revenue is generated as healthcare institutions, financial services firms and government agencies purchase Sermo products to access this elite group of practitioners."<br /><br />They even have an illustration!<br /><br />So, I wouldn't use the legalese document as my reference point, I would use the About Us page.<br /><br />Having said that... it's not on the Home Page, so there is still more they could do. My point is that they are certainly not hiding the information.<br /><br />--Brad EinarsenBrad Einarsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13335507806365809912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8550428.post-4917257793100579352011-06-10T08:24:48.766-04:002011-06-10T08:24:48.766-04:00I read related topic about eMedical Media which fo...I read related topic about eMedical Media which focuses on online services for healthcare activities. This is really interesting also. With other phase of topic still engaging with social media is one of the best ways to communicate and gather target market. This issue will definitely important to all of us. Thanks for sharing.Anne Patrickhttp://netvani.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8550428.post-20969826832098253972011-06-09T18:57:53.017-04:002011-06-09T18:57:53.017-04:00Hey, John, thanks for the link love.
I appreciate...Hey, John, thanks for the link love.<br /><br />I appreciated reading your perspective as someone who has Sermo as a client. I was hoping to take advantage of the free trial offer because Sermo could be a platform for me to recommend to my clients.<br /><br />I don't know if they will call me back. :-(Joe Hagehttp://medicalmarcom.comnoreply@blogger.com