A Badge of Honor?
Social media and smart phone technology has truly changed how some people live their day-to-day lives -- and the healthcare community is realizing this. Many healthcare organizations have Twitter and Facebook accounts to spread their message to the billions of people on social networks. Some people can even receive text messages reminding them to take certain medications.
But MTV and Foursquare are taking this to a whole different level. Foursquare is a phone application letting friends know where you're at -- the mall, a bar, the gym. Through the end of the month, if a person gets tested for STDs, he can receive a special "badge" (part of MTV's "Get Yourself Tested" campaign) on Foursquare proclaiming so.
Obviously, getting yourself tested for STDs is a healthy, responsible measure to take. But will this campaign actually work? How many people will want others to know they've been tested for STDs?
MTV hopes partnering with Foursquare and offering the badge will help take away the stigma that comes along with getting tested for STDS. What do you think?