Social media has forever changed the way we interact with others and consume information. Consequently, many industries, recognizing the potential benefits of a well-executed social media presence, have incorporated popular social media technologies into their routines, using various platforms to build and strengthen their communities while promoting themselves. The field of social work, with its emphasis on providing support to those in need, has also learned to navigate the world of social media, leveraging its best aspects to connect members of the social work community.
The Benefits of Social Media
The popularity of social media lies in its emphasis on accessibility.
Barring certain exceptions, nearly everyone is in reach, making it
significantly easier to engage in conversations with people sharing
similar interests than it was before the existence of social media
websites. For social workers, social media presents numerous
opportunities to cultivate a personal network that serves to educate and
support. As the National Association of Social Workers and Association of Social Work Boards’ Standards for Technology and Social Media Practice states,
“Electronic communication can provide access to information, referral,
advocacy services and interpersonal communication.” From professional
groups on LinkedIn to Facebook pages for specific organizations, social
media engages workers by creating welcoming environments conducive to
the exchange of ideas and information.
As real-time communication is one of the hallmarks of social media,
social workers often utilize platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to
stay abreast of pressing topics. The latest entry on popular social work
blogs can be shared and discussed within minutes along with relevant
articles from major news publications. Social workers can also harness
the often instantaneous communication of social media to learn more
about issues relevant to their clients’ specific situations, whether
it’s the latest app to use as a component of treatment or to further
enhance understanding of a client’s cultural experiences. On a more
personal level, social media can help social workers obtain knowledge of
topics and developments about to specific cases, which means they can
provide better, more inclusive services to their clients.
Proper Use of Social Media
When used properly, social media can be a valuable asset, but if used
carelessly, social media can subvert a professional’s efforts. Like
other social media users, some social workers fall into the lure of
sharing intimate, personal details of their day-to-day activities. By
nature of their work, social workers have a hard time extricating their
daily personal experiences from those of their clients, and many seek
questionable ways to get around established social work ethics without
explicitly breaking them. In “Pause Before Posting – Using Social Media Responsibly”
from the January/February 2011 issue of Social Work Today, Matthew
Robb, MSW, LSCW-C, shares examples of social workers relaying detailed
stories concerning their clients while doing the bare minimum to protect
their clients’ privacy, such as omitting or changing names and
identifying details. In those situations, the absence of the clients’
names almost becomes immaterial because the social workers have,
nonetheless, published the personal experiences of others on the
Internet for the world to see.
Given the public nature of the Internet and the permanence of its
content, professional and personal discretion are of utmost importance
when using social media as a social worker. Social media should not be
used to vent about or share a client’s story without the client’s
permission, regardless of removed or changed details, as it is a gross
violation of an extremely personal relationship. Furthermore, such
stories do very little to advance the field of social work and tend to
be self-serving and exploitive. Rather, social media should be used to
empower social workers and others through the development of an engaging
community that is eager to share knowledge and offer advice when asked
and, most importantly, when needed. For more guidelines on properly
using social media, please see the National Association of Social
Workers and Association of Social Work Boards’ Standards for Technology and Social Media Practice.
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