Openness, transparency and collaboration: much has been claimed in recent years for the transformative potential of social media in healthcare. The advent of patient communities in particular have begun to demonstrate the power of being open and connected but are there some areas that are taboo? What challenges does healthcare as a space offer to start-ups, healthcare professionals and passionate individuals who are seeking to transform healthcare through social media? How can we we take advantage of the promise of social media in healthcare and address the challenges around privacy, dignity and vulnerability, especially when dealing with areas such as sexual health, mental health and death? The panel will address these themes as well as some of the technologies, apps, practices and business models that are being used effectively in this space.