Social Media & The Social Worker by Cindy Roland

qtfrmtx — 2015-06-22 06:55:33 UTC

Everybody is doing it...

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Many of us subscribe to some sort of social media nowadays. Whether it be to stay in touch with family and friends afar or for networking purposes. Some of us are very active and user friendly while others are more on the sidelines of social media.

I can't say whether it is a good thing or a bad thing but it sure is becoming very popular with pages like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn to name a few.

More than just a #Selfie

qtfrmtx — 2015-06-23 01:34:19 UTC

But does social media have a place in the social work field? Social media can have a positive result besides sharing pictures of our dogs, kids and selfie #1086.

Benefits

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Forums on Twitter for example can be used to create a large information-sharing and supervision network across local, national and international audiences. It can broaden our professional network and keep us informed of the latest policies and regulations. Social media is FREE and in it we find communities that we choose to be part of, we can promote research or gain ideas and expert advice on our own research.

5 Reasons

qtfrmtx — 2015-06-23 04:00:12 UTC

Why Social Workers should use social media...

1. Knowledge building

2. Making Connections 3. Building conversations 4. Constructing and Reinforcing a Professional Identity

5. Building Support and Resilience

https://shirleyayres.wordpress.com/2011/10/23/5-reasons-why-social-workers-should-use-social-media/

NASW Approves

qtfrmtx — 2015-06-23 04:02:17 UTC

NASW is connecting the social work profession on various social networking sites. Here are some helpful resources to help you navigate the world of social media:

Twitter - www.twitter.com/nasw

Facebook - www.facebook.com/socialworkers

Linkedin

YouTube - www.youtube.com/socialworkers

Social Work Blog - www.socialworkblog.org

NASW RSS Feeds are also available

June 30 Social Media Day

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Ethical Challenges

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Many social workers use social media sites for personal use only but it doesn’t mean we can’t merge them with our professional life. When doing so, there are many ethical challenges we must first explore and discuss. Professional and personal boundaries must be set when handling friend request from clients or former clients, whether to post information related to work or use client testimonial. While social media is great for sharing of information and building connections, the ethical issues remain the same and ethical principles and standards must equally apply as when working face to face with clients.

Ethical Consequences

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The Risk

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As with other ethical issues and dilemmas in practice, there are rarely black and white answers pertaining to social media use in our profession. Social workers must use their own professional judgement, review best practice guidelines and engage in on-going dialogue with colleagues.

Being in social media you run the risk of loss of privacy. Remember to be cautious of what you say on the World Wide Web. Be safe as you run the risk of conflict of interest, confidentiality, and angry clients searching to know more about you. Having an alias is a smart idea when working with hostile clients. It is a good idea to know the current settings on all your social media pages and learn how to make them private.

How to make your Facebook private

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Questions for Discussion

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What was the first social network you joined?

How many social networks do you use regularly?

Have you used social media to connect with social work in any way? If so, how?

Where do you draw the line with social media and your professional life?

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