---
title: "Opportunities and Challenges: Using the Internet for Prevention"
description: "Susannah Fox discusses national and California state survey findings."
date: "2003-11-17"
authors:
  - name: "Susannah Fox"
    job_title: "Former Researcher"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/susannah-fox/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2003/11/17/opportunities-and-challenges-using-the-internet-for-prevention/"
categories:
  - "Health Care"
  - "Health Policy"
  - "Medicine & Health"
  - "Online Search"
  - "Social Media"
tags:
  - "Digital Divide"
  - "Race and Ethnicity"
---

# Opportunities and Challenges: Using the Internet for Prevention

Susannah Fox discusses national and California state survey findings. More Americans look for health information online than see a doctor on a typical day. Search engines are the starting point for health seekers, not specialized sites. Email is used for advice and support, especially for Internet users living with a chronic illness or caring for someone at home. Few health seekers verify information quality, but many use what they find. Low-income Californians buck the national trend and search for health information just as often as higher-income Californians.