Social media is used by an increasing number of people to communicate: from rating purchases on Amazon to sharing news, views and opinion through Twitter, to sharing photographs and video on Flickr and Youtube.
We commissioned Shirley Ayres of Aspire Knowledge to look at how social media is being used by service users and carers and to consider the current state of online marketplaces specialising in goods and services for services users and carers.
The THE FUTURE FOR PERSONALISATION? SERVICE USERS, CARERS AND DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT report highlights many exciting and innovative uses of social media such as blogging, microblogging and Facebook to promote causes and share information and experience. The success of online marketplaces such as Shop4support may depend on whether they can achieve a critical mass of buyers and sellers.
From the examples illustrated in the report, it is clear that social media can play an important role in self directed support and we hope that, by drawing attention to what is happening now, we can stimulate discussion and action.
- Read the THE FUTURE FOR PERSONALISATION? SERVICE USERS, CARERS AND DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT report and comment online
- Download The future for personalisation? Service users, carers and digital engagement report
- Follow the discussion on Twitter
