This is something.
Foursquare and MTV have joined forces in an effort to remove the stigma associated with getting screened for sexually transmitted diseases. During the month of September Foursquare members who check in for STD screening will be awarded a special badge. The badge is part of MTV’s “GYT: Get Yourself Tested” campaign, which is hoping to cultivate open communication with parents, partners and health care providers.
Transparency truly is king when you wear your STD status on your public profile.
While its unclear how the GYT campaign will ultimately affect public health outcomes, it’s a clean demonstration of how location-based social apps can be leveraged to raise disease awareness.
My mind’s already thinking where this could go.
h/t to Alltop’s Holy Kaw
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This is a great test for FourSquare – pun intended.
I’d also like to see FourSquare team up with benefit providers, researchers, pharmacists, physicians, P.A.s and nurses to promote medication adherence. Call it TakeTheMeds.com or something cool. Deliver location based incentives, rewards, support and recognition with patients, families, providers, researchers and payors all taking a share of the responsibility for medication adherence. Make taking meds as prescribed another badge of honor.
What do you think?
I think this is an awesome idea. Could be really powerful in awareness/action campaigns.
This is really interesting. The UK Department of Health (for whom I work) created a successful sexual health page on Facebook, aimed at reducing the stigma around discussing Chlamydia testing: http://www.facebook.com/sayyestothetest
However, using a location-based app takes this a stage further by encouraging users to ‘wear’ a badge and automatically promote their interaction to friends.
I like it! Fair play to them, anything to raise awareness of sexual health. Even if the badge is never used – look at all the web chat it has generated, including links to other health resources etc (see Tim Lloyds response above as an example). To look at it from a positive perspective (excuse pun), a negative test result for patients demonstrates the self awareness of the individual. Is it not similar to carrying a condom if you are a women; does it suggest you are promiscuous or does it suggest you take your sexual health seriously?