Do You Know Where Your Widget Has Been?: Drug Companies and Social Media

Do you know where your widget has been? That link that a friend shared with you on Facebook could have originated with a drug company, and it may well not be telling you everything you need to know about a prescription drug.

Drug companies have begun using social media to promote their products, and the Food and Drug Administration has sent a warning letter to drugmaker Novartis for its practice of sharing information using Facebook without giving consumers the full story about the drugs it is promoting. Other drugmakers are setting up online support groups and creating YouTube videos they hope will go viral to promote their products.

More details are available on the National Public Radio website.