Health professionals and students are expected to be proficient in basic information technology so as to mitigate error, communicate effectively, manage information and collaborate with peers. Web 2.0 applications such as blogs, podcasts and wikis are social networking tools that may enhance health professionals' development of such skills. As Web 2.0 application use by health professionals is in its infancy, the purpose of this paper is to present examples of the use of such tools that hold potential for online and mobile information dissemination, knowledge building in education, and professional collaboration. Examples based in a collaborative model of virtual conference interaction, and in the use of blogs and podcasts within nursing education, are discussed. The paper concludes by seeking to promote debate on the possible development of Web 2.0 tools specific to health informatics, and so developing the next generation of health informatics, 'Health Informatics 2.0'.