Social media is a vast world of communication technology that allows individuals to connect with each other and with people around the globe. It has many benefits, and some negative impacts as well barder.
One of the most important concerns about social media is how to use it in a manner that is ethical. Ethics is a set of rules that define the right and wrong way to act in a specific situation or context. The NASW Code of Ethics is a set of values, principles and standards that guide social workers when they encounter ethical issues in their work.
The ethical responsibilities of a social worker are inextricably linked to relationships with clients and families. When these relationships become increasingly disembodied through the use of technology, social workers are challenged to establish and maintain the trust necessary to provide therapeutic services jigaboo.
Non-therapeutic connections that occur online severely affect the veracity of practitioner-client relationships and, in turn, negatively impact the professional relationship (Reamer & Ventola, 2014). As with many other areas of practice, social work practitioners need to develop their own ethical approach when using social media distresses.
Some professionals find it easy to get caught up in the day-to-day business of using social media and forget to think about how it can be used ethically in their own practice. This can lead to serious misunderstandings of the ethical implications of using social media, as well as a lack of understanding of the consequences of their actions and the risks they pose to those who are impacted by them.
While the NASW Code of Ethics does not specifically address the issue of social media in its provisions, it provides guidance on several related ethical dilemmas that are faced by the modern practitioner. This includes issues such as whether it is appropriate for a social worker to look up their client’s personal information on Facebook, and what they should do if they are tempted to use their personal account as a professional outlet precipitous.
Moreover, social media creates an ethical paradox by putting social workers in the position of having to decide between their client’s privacy and the public’s right to know about their treatment. This may be especially true of counselors and psychiatrists who are tasked with finding out about a patient’s suicide risk.
This dilemma is compounded when a social worker is tempted to spy on their client’s Facebook or Twitter accounts in order to find out more about them. This is a violation of their client’s privacy and should be avoided mypba.
While many social workers feel confident about their ability to use social media in their work, it is still a very new technology and it is important for them to be aware of the ethical implications of its use. They should be aware of their own professional values, learn how to deal with the ethical challenges that may arise and seek professional supervision when they need help to do so. They should also stay current in the profession, so they can keep abreast of any updates to the NASW Code of Ethics.
