According to statistics from "Business Insider UK", in 2016, 99% of young people aged 16-24 use social media at least on a weekly basis . This therefore means that we will be the first collective group of young people to bring the social image we have created for ourselves online into a professional networking environment. One where, as a doctor, the behaviors you expect within a normal work environment are identical to those you expect online. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Although social media has often been studied for its negative impact, there is no escaping its growing popularity. This is a significant sign that it is here to stay and will soon inevitably become a key part of future professional work environments. Being able to harness social media and use it in a positive way could have a dramatic impact on public health. One particular aspect of social media that can be used constructively by clinicians in the future is the ability it offers to share. Being able to share research or new discoveries with other doctors around the world could be a hugely impactful feature of social media for improving the way healthcare is done everywhere around the world. Doctors in general are often curious and inquisitive characters, so being able to readily communicate, compare and critique ideas with others in a similar state of mind from around the world could lead to dramatic improvements in treatments and patient care. This could also allow doctors working in countries where medical care is not as advanced to promptly contact foreign doctors to ask for advice on potential treatments for problematic cases that could be of great benefit to a large number of patients. Aside from this, social media can be used to raise public awareness of important health issues by using it as a tool in a "mass media campaign". GMC guidelines state that doctors must hold themselves to the same high standards online as in real life. , which means always valuing patient confidentiality and always treating colleagues with respect. The GMC also advises that privacy settings on social media should be checked and that doctors should be aware that social media platforms "cannot guarantee confidentiality". Aside from this, the GMC also recognizes the potential positive ways in which social media can be used, allowing doctors to confer on topical health issues, enabling doctors to communicate with colleagues across the UK and abroad and also serving as an outlet to inform patients about ways to access healthcare. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Social media used appropriately could be an invaluable tool for the public health system. Correctly using existing platforms or creating a social page reserved exclusively for doctors. For our generation who spent much of their adolescence on social media, it has become second nature to post on Instagram or like something on Facebook; using and leveraging this online expertise gained in the future could fundamentally alter how public healthcare is delivered..