**3. Social support**

steps to attain a health-related goal [2]. Technology, and specifically Smartphone Apps and wearable devices can provide the incentives, feedback, and information individuals need to take their health into their own hands and improve their wellbeing. At the same time, social support can also become a tool to help those individuals who are willing to change their unhealthy behaviors, but need some encouragement and instrumental assistance to reach their health goals [3], such support can be provided face-to-face, or with the use of digital technology that allows individuals to gather in social network sites (SNSs) to seek and receive

To gain a deeper understanding on how individuals use technology and social network sites to improve their health, a qualitative study was conducted in three stages. Phase 1 includes a netnography on two health-related Facebook communities conducted for a six-month period. In the second phase, in-depth interviews were conducted with five bariatric surgery patients. As part of their recovery, they created a Whatasapp and a Telegram group to receive encouragement and provide tips to keep the weight off and eat balanced meals. In the third phase, in-depth interviews were conducted with individuals who use their Smartphones as tools to monitor their health-related activities. All in-depth interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed; for the netnography online, data were captured in text files using word-processing software, photos, and the other images published by SNS users were captured as screen shots of the computer screen as they appeared online [4, 5]. Then we conducted a content analysis that allowed us to gain a better understanding of how individuals make use of

In this chapter, we seek to present our findings and illustrate on the use of technology as a tool to increase health and wellbeing. In the first part, we explore key concepts regarding the use of digital technologies and present some theoretical bases of social support and behavioral economics; finally, we describe the findings of our qualitative study to illustrate how indi-

Most individuals cannot imagine leaving home without their mobile phones. Nearly all adults in the US now have cellphones [6] and half of those are smartphones. In countries such as Australia, Italy, China, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, smartphone penetration reaches almost 70% of the adult population [7], while the adoption rate of smartphones is less than 30% in places such as Mexico (20%), Egypt (26%), Argentina (24%), and Brazil

As smartphones and tables provide consumers with more access to content and multimedia features, consumers' habits are being transformed around the world. Such devices are being used to play games, shop, connect with social networks, and even for taking care of health issues. In fact, Smartphones and other ubiquitous technologies can be the solution in providing consolidated information in an understandable and meaningful form that will actually

viduals are using the Internet and digital technologies to improve their lifestyle.

health advice and encouragement.

114 Advances in Health Management

digital technologies to take care of their health issues.

**2. Digital technologies and mHealth**

help people to make better choices [9].

(14%) [8].

Social support groups have been present for many decades. It was in the early 1980s when a new social movement conformed by individuals seeking for social support to alleviate or mitigate the effects of their overconsumption patterns (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous) emerged [17]. Support groups are voluntary affiliations, formed by peers who rely on the expertise and testimonials of members, who provide each other with mutual assistance, feedback, and methods to deal with their problems [18].

And event though, social support groups began with gatherings in church basements and school meeting rooms, they have moved to SNS, where there is no fixed schedule for the meetings, physical contact, or face-to-face interactions full of embarrassment for confessing in the middle of a circle of peers one more missed section at the gym, or devouring a big bowl of ice cream each night [19]. Nowadays, encounters take place online, using the advances of digital technology like Facebook groups, which allow meeting peers who share similar values and goals, and who have joined the digital communities to receive the much-needed social support.

Individuals who use online communities can chat on the website, write about their healthrelated problems, and support each other with specific advice. In certain communities, members can update their health information and receive tailored suggestions, such as daily calorie intake and customized exercise plans, as well as motivational messages from their friends to help them adhere to their goals, or receive encouragement when they are ready to re-start their exercise routine after a relapse; with the advantage of remaining anonymous or using nicknames that will protect them from embarrassing moments and hard critics [20, 21].

One of the advantages of online communities is that they are customized for specific needs. Usually, they are characterized according to the activity they provide (e.g., social support, health advice), the people whom they serve (e.g., breast cancer survivors), or the technology that supports them (e.g., linked to a wearable device). In these communities, individuals can find and provide four types of support: (1) emotional (e.g., friendship, trust, empathy); (2) instrumental (tangible aid); (3) informational (e.g., advice or suggestions); and (4) constructive feedback; which in sum become a form of social capital of high value for individuals [3].

Even though, SNSs allow different types of interactions and relationships, what distinguishes social support from other interactions are some specific characteristics: social support is always intended to be helpful, is consciously provided in an interpersonal context of caring and respect, and in the case of informational support, it can attempt to influence the behaviors and decisions of the receiver [3].
