Privacy Is a Precious Commodity
One of the biggest risks of sharing your medical information on social media is the potential loss of privacy. While it may feel like you’re sharing your story with friends and family, the reality is that once something is online, you lose control over who sees it.
There are strict privacy laws, policies and procedures that are in place to govern the collection, use, release and disposal of your information. And there’s is a significate reason for this.
Even with strict privacy settings, there’s always the chance that your information could be shared beyond your intended audience.
It’s not just about nosy acquaintances; employers, insurance companies, or other organizations might also come across this information. They could use it to make decisions about your employment or insurance coverage.
The Internet Doesn’t Forget
Social media posts can feel temporary and fleeting, but the internet has a long memory. Once you share something online, it can be nearly impossible to completely erase it.
Even if you delete a post, screenshots or cached versions can linger indefinitely. That means details about your health could be accessible for years to come, potentially affecting future opportunities or relationships.
Potential for Misunderstanding
Sharing medical details online can also lead to misunderstandings. Without the full context or the ability to have a nuanced conversation, people might misinterpret your situation.
This could lead to unnecessary worry among friends and family or unwanted advice from those who don’t fully understand your condition.
Opening the Door to Unsolicited Opinions
The internet is full of people with opinions, and not all of them are helpful or informed. By sharing your medical situation publicly, you might invite unsolicited advice, judgment, or criticism. This can be overwhelming, especially when you’re already dealing with a challenging health issue.
Safeguarding Your Mental Health
It’s important to consider the emotional toll that sharing personal health information online can take. While seeking support from others can be beneficial, it’s also essential to protect your mental well-being. The stress of managing public reactions, misinformation, or even trolling can add unnecessary strain during a time when you need to focus on your health.
A More Thoughtful Approach
This doesn’t mean you should never share your health journey online. However, it’s worth considering who you’re sharing with and why.
Private groups, close friends, or direct messages may be better platforms for discussing sensitive health issues. These spaces allow for more controlled, supportive conversations without the risks associated with public posts.
The Unintended Consequences of Sharing Personal Medical Information
We live in a time where social media has become a platform for sharing everything—from daily routines to significant life events.
For some, it’s a way to connect with others and find support during challenging times. But when it comes to posting about personal medical procedures, especially those of a very private nature, it’s important to consider how it might be perceived by others.
When you share deeply personal medical information online, you might do so with the intention of seeking support, raising awareness, or simply documenting your journey.
However, not everyone will interpret your posts the same way. To some, these updates can come across as a bid for attention, even if that’s far from your intention.
The reality is that social media is often a space where people quickly form opinions, sometimes without fully understanding the context.
Posts about private medical matters can be seen as oversharing or even attention-seeking, especially if they are frequent or detailed. This can lead to judgment, gossip, or negative reactions that add unnecessary stress to others.
- Navigating the Fine Line
It’s natural to want to share significant life events with those around you, especially if you’re going through something tough.
But there’s a fine line between sharing and oversharing. When posts delve into very personal medical procedures, it can make others uncomfortable, or they may feel it’s too intimate for a public forum.
The discomfort isn’t just about the content of the posts themselves—it’s also about the way social media platforms work. Posts about private medical matters can sometimes be seen as breaking the unspoken social media etiquette, where certain things are considered too personal for the public eye.
- The Risk of Misinterpretation
Posting about private medical procedures can also lead to misinterpretation. Friends or followers might not fully grasp the seriousness of your situation or might assume things that aren’t true. This can result in awkward or insensitive comments, unwanted sympathy, or even skepticism about your motives for sharing.
Furthermore, when others view these posts as attention-seeking, it can diminish the genuine support you might have received otherwise. People may be less likely to engage or offer help, assuming you’re more interested in the reaction than the connection.
- Protecting Your Personal Space
In today’s digital world, it’s crucial to remember that not everything needs to be shared publicly. Protecting your personal space online means being selective about what you post and considering how it might be received.
By keeping certain aspects of your life private, especially deeply personal medical details, you maintain control over your narrative and avoid potential misunderstandings.
- Finding Support in the Right Places
If you’re going through something challenging and need support, there are other ways to find it without broadcasting every detail on social media.
Private groups, close-knit friends, or professional support networks can offer a safer, more understanding environment where you can share your experiences without worrying about how they’ll be perceived.
The Risks of Sharing Personal Medical Information Online
When one woman learned she had breast cancer, she felt incredibly isolated. The topic was so distressing for her loved ones that they often avoided discussing it altogether.
For years, she had no outlet for her feelings until she decided to start a blog. “Blogging and reaching out allowed me to see mortality as more normal. It makes me feel like I’m not the only person going through this,” she shared.
She’s not alone in seeking connection online. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, nearly 1 in 5 people dealing with health issues look for support networks on social media and other online communities.
While sharing your health journey can be a way to lift the emotional burden of living with a serious illness, it also comes with significant risks to your online privacy.
Risk 1: Medical Identity Theft
Sharing your medical history online can make you a target for medical identity theft. This occurs when someone uses your medical information to submit fraudulent insurance claims or receive prescriptions, medical devices, or treatment in your name.
“The more information available to a public audience—such as your address, employment, and medical history—the higher risk you face of medical identity theft,” warns Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance.
Medical identity theft isn’t as widely known as financial identity theft, but it can have far worse consequences. For example:
- Danger to Your Health: When a scammer’s medical history gets mixed with yours, it can lead to incorrect diagnoses, treatment delays, or wrong prescriptions. This can severely impact your ability to get the correct treatment or insurance coverage.
- Financial Costs: Unlike credit card fraud, where your liability is limited, medical identity theft can leave you on the hook for thousands of dollars. A Ponemon Institute survey found that victims of medical ID theft spent an average of $13,500 in legal and medical fees to resolve the issue.
- Long-Term Damage: Victims of medical identity theft often face years of dealing with aggressive debt collectors and damaged credit. In some cases, they may even face criminal charges if their stolen identity is used to obtain prescription drugs.
Risk 2: Career Damage
If a current or prospective employer learns about your serious illness through your social media, it could harm your career. Employers might hesitate to hire or promote someone they perceive as a long-term risk, despite laws designed to prevent this kind of discrimination.
The odds of employers discovering your posts are high. A 2017 CareerBuilder study revealed that 70% of employers review applicants’ social media profiles, and 69% conduct online searches for applicants’ names during the hiring process.
“If you’re applying for new jobs, it may not be the right time to post openly about your diagnosis if you’re not comfortable with employers knowing,” advises Lucia Savage, chief privacy officer at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
It’s often safer to keep health-related information private until after you’ve secured a job or promotion.
Risk 3: Limited Financial Options
Posting about an illness or medical condition can also impact your financial life. Business associates or financial institutions might shy away from working with you if they learn about your health condition, even though it’s illegal to discriminate this way.
A study by Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc., found a pattern of discrimination against pregnant women by mortgage lenders in New York. Financial institutions either denied or delayed loans due to the assumption that women wouldn’t return to work after having a baby. Out of 30 cases investigated, 26 violated fair lending rules.
To protect yourself, it’s wise to keep pregnancy and other health news confined to close friends and family.
Risk 4: Targeting by Advertisers
Sharing your health information online can make you a prime target for advertisers. Medical websites often use cookies to track your activity, which advertisers then use to create detailed profiles about you. These profiles can lead to a flood of targeted ads, emails, phone calls, and other intrusive marketing efforts.
For example, on Cancer.org, hundreds of digital marketing companies track user movements and potentially sell data to advertisers. If your information is sold to pharmaceutical companies, you could find yourself bombarded with ads for medications, treatments, and related products.
Risk 5: Higher Healthcare Costs
Posting about your health online can lead to higher healthcare costs. Health insurance companies now access billions of online records containing detailed information about people’s lives, which they use to assess potential customers’ costs. This can affect how much you pay for a policy or the coverage you receive.
For instance, if you post about your mother’s breast cancer diagnosis, insurers might see you as a higher risk for the disease and adjust your rates or coverage accordingly.
Risk 6: Termination of Disability Coverage
Insurance companies monitor your online activity as part of their risk assessment process. This means that your posts can impact whether you continue receiving disability benefits.
In one case, IBM technician Nathalie Blanchard had her disability benefits cut off after her insurance company saw photos of her smiling on a beach and having fun in a pub on her private Facebook profile. They interpreted these as evidence that she wasn’t too depressed to work, despite her doctor’s orders to take a break.
If you receive disability benefits, it’s best to avoid posting anything that could be interpreted as evidence of improved health.
In the end, it’s about finding a balance that feels right for you. Sharing your journey is your choice, but being mindful of how it might come across can help you avoid unnecessary stress and maintain the respect and understanding of those around you.
Your health is your business, and you have the right to choose how, when, and with whom you share it. By being mindful about what you post online, you can protect your privacy, your peace of mind and your future.
