Internet Becomes Health Info Source

Three-quarters of teenagers and young adults online have used the Internet to find health information, including details on depression, birth control and STDs, according to a survey released this week. "The Internet is empowering young people," said Vicky Rideout, vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation, the source of the survey. She added, however, that young adults need to be educated on how to evaluate the information they find. The study found that 90 percent of teenagers and young adults ages 15-24 have used the Internet, and nearly half of them go online at least once a day. Among those who have checked health information, 44 percent have researched topics related to pregnancy, birth control, AIDS or other STDs. According to the study, 39 percent said they had changed their behavior because of information they had found, and 14 percent reported seeing a doctor as a result of their research.

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