Ethical risks in online social work: e-Professionalism and the implications for social work education.
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The document discusses the ethical risks associated with online social work, highlighting the importance of e-professionalism in the context of expanding digital technologies and social media usage. It identifies challenges related to online identity, service provision, and emerging social problems such as cyber-bullying and privacy invasions. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for social work education to integrate e-professionalism into its curriculum to adequately prepare students for modern professional practice.
Ethical risks in online social work: e-Professionalism and the implications for social work education.
- 1. Ethical risks in online social work: e-Professionalism and the implications for social work education Associate Professor Donna McAuliffe School of Social Work and Human Services Griffith University, Queensland, Australia With Dr Jennifer Boddy Griffith University Dr Sharlene Nipperess Deakin University
- 2. Ethics in the digital age • Characterised by: • Explosive advances in technologies • Increasing debate and polarised views • Creative interventions for service delivery; advocacy • Increase in ethical dilemmas • High potential; high risk
- 3. • Social Media Statistics Australia – June 2014 1. Facebook – 13,200,000 users 2. YouTube – 12,750,000 3. WordPress.com – 6,300,000 4. Tumblr – 4,900,000 5. LinkedIn – 3,700,000 6. Blogspot – 2,950,000 7. Twitter - 2,500,000 Active Australian Users 8. Instagram - 1,600,000 Active Australian Users 9. TripAdvisor – 1,450,000 10. Snapchat - 1,070,000 Active Australian Users • http://www.socialmedianews.com.au/social-media- statistics-australia-june-2014/
- 4. Definitions • E-Professionalism • The development of an online persona that is congruent with the values and ethics of the profession and portrays use of self in a way that is respectful and demonstrates professional integrity • Chenoweth, L. & McAuliffe, D. (2014) The Road to Social Work and Human Services, 4th edn, Melbourne: Cengage.
- 5. Social media Who one is online What one does online Emerging social problems Important considerations
- 6. Online persona • About WHO ONE IS online • How do people construct online identities? (visual imagery, links, connections/friending) • Where are the boundaries between personal and professional? (privacy; disclosures) • What values do people have about online communication? • How does online identity construction impact on reputation? • If someone were to put your name into Google Images, what would they find?
- 7. Online service delivery • About WHAT ONE DOES in the online environment • Online Service provision is expanding – e-therapy; e- counselling; ‘skypervision’ • Ethical dilemmas are also expanding alongside this growth • Issues of privacy; duty of care; boundaries; equity • Advocacy; lobbying; political action • How do practitioners learn how to practice online?
- 8. Emerging social problems • What one KNOWS ABOUT that has online connection • Social workers dealing with a new set of social problems: • Cyber-bullying • Online relationships; online dating services • Online gaming/pornography • Cybersex • Misuse of internet • Invasions of privacy; cyber-stalking • Trolling • Tagging • Antisocial behavior/mental health/suicide
- 9. Challengesforsocialwork education • Where is it best to locate curriculum content on e- Professionalism? • Courses on ethics and professional practice • Courses that prepare students for clinical and field placements • Courses that focus on human development – digital literacy • Courses that focus on law and human rights • Courses that focus on advocacy, development work, critical reflection • Skills courses – casework; group work; community work; research. • There is no excuse for e-Professionalism to be neglected in Higher Education/University curriculum
- 10. Referencestoe-Professionalism • Chenoweth, L. & McAuliffe, D. (2014) The road to social work and human service practice. 4th edn. Melbourne: Cengage. • McAuliffe, D. (2014) Interprofessional Ethics: Collaboration in the social, health and human services. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press. • Donna McAuliffe: [email protected] • Jennifer Boddy: [email protected] • Sharlene Nipperess: [email protected]