Ethical Considerations for Social Workers Related to Technology
Frederic Reamer (2024) offered a thorough discussion on the ethical considerations for technology in the social work profession in Social Work Boundary Issues in the Digital Age. While there are many areas of concern regarding technology integration and how it can blur the boundaries between clients and professionals, the topic of social workers allowing their emotional needs to blur professional boundaries really stood out to me. Although any unethical behavior that has the potential to harm clients makes me uncomfortable, the intentional or unintentional action of jeopardizing client well-being for personal gain is severely unsettling, in my opinion.
Working in a service provider setting, I have witnessed examples of this unethical behavior among coworkers. Though well-intentioned, I have seen a provider share their personal cellphone number with clients and create strong relationships, similar to close friendships, in the name of being “supportive.” It is this same coworker that I have seen disclose personal experiences that paralleled a client’s situation when it was not therapeutically necessary. To address my concerns, I sought supervision from my superior, and they handled the situation professionally.
In response, our organization developed policies related to technology use and integrated ethical training for all employees. While I am pleased that my concerns were heard and the behavior was corrected, it still makes me feel uneasy at the thought of how quickly unethical relationships can form without constant awareness and reflection. This example reflects the discussion Reamer facilitated in the article regarding dual relationships and a professional’s personal unresolved trauma (Reamer, 2024).
To set clear boundaries with a client to prevent an unethical situation like the one I have mentioned, I would facilitate a conversation with my client regarding expectations. Specifically, I would highlight the appropriate forms of communication and explain my role as their provider. Ensuring my client is aware that communication will only be conducted through professional channels and listing the limitations of our helping relationship would allow me and the client to be on the same page regarding our goals and time together.
Youth and the Digital Age
On a personal and professional level, I agree with the movement of technoskeptisism that Jonathan Haidt and Zach Rausch are advocating for. I work as the Education Liaison for the Children’s Advocacy Center – Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit (CAC-LMJC). My role mainly consists of educating youth, caregivers, and other professionals on child abuse prevention and internet safety. In a recent training I received, I was informed about harmful online chat rooms on the platform Discord. Though vulgar and uncomfortable, the material opened my eyes to the real and horrendous harm that is done to not only youth, but all age groups and diverse populations. When I reviewed this week’s learning material provided by Haidt and Rausch, I was making connections between the technology use of youth and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals via social media platforms that I recently was trained on.
Working at the CAC-LMJC, I mostly interact with minors who have experienced trauma. Through staff meetings and supervision, we have identified the potential barriers to the therapeutic process for youth who have unrestricted access to the internet and social media platforms such as TikTok, Discord, Instagram, and pornography sites. Caregivers also express concerns around their children’s behaviors and tendencies, which they believe are being contributed to by their electronic devices. These concerns parallel Haidt’s and Rausch’s argument that both adolescents and parents report harm from internet access (Haidt & Rausch, 2026). To better serve our clients and their families, we have integrated resources and informational pamphlets into the packets we provide during intake to provide education on the potential harms, warning signs, and helpful actions related to the usage of technology. Furthermore, we are making a push for more recent information and training on how technology is impacting youth and ways to support families.
While I mostly agree with the arguments made in the article, The Case Against Social Media: Seven Lines of Evidence, and Haidt’s TED Talk, How Screens Stole Childhood – and How to Get It Back, there is one area that I hesitate to fully support. In his TED Talk, Haidt argues that devices need to be completely removed from educational settings for youth. While he highlights the evidence as to why he believes this would be beneficial to youth, I identified a potential area of concern. If we completely take away technology in learning environments, how can we ensure adolescents are prepared to use technology efficiently for higher education and even employment? While I agree there is evidence supporting this idea, I would also like to see a program in place to ensure youth are learning the skills necessary to thrive as working adults.
Overall, I am in support of limiting online access for youth and promoting in-person interactions. The research, surveys, and unfortunate outcomes related to social media, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and internet usage by minors are overwhelming. I am also in support of placing the burden of ensuring platforms are safe back onto the companies that own them, such as Meta. However, I believe there should be adequate support and resources for families to navigate these challenges and prepare adolescents with vital technology skills for their success in adulthood.
Hi Kailey!
Your mention of how Discord as a platform is exposing many individuals to harm, especially youth, caused me to think of another platform. Roblox is another platform which yonger individuals interact with more for it’s ideal purpose, but unfortunately, there are older individuals interacting with this platform to cause harm to the younger users. It is sad to see that a platform that can be used for leisure is now being used to target the younger population. I do understand your perspective that without technology in learning environments can limit the knowledge of adolescents in how to use it. But I don’t think it is beneficial for children or adolescents to have free range of technology. And when I think about it, I think of platforms that can be harmful, like social media and entertainment services that aren’t restricted. But we do live in a time were techonology is being used more rapidly, which is why I understand why adolescents would need to learn how to use it. I do wish that there were devices that only had educational programs, like Haidt pointed out in his TED Talk.
Insightful post! I think it showed real leadership on your part to take initiative when you noticed the lines blurring in an unethical relationship between client and practitioner. Another boundary that often gets blurred, especially with technology and online communication, is around timing. Some clients expect responses even outside of working hours, which can be concerning and hard to manage.I also agree with your point about technology in education. Even before tech was fully integrated into schools, we had computer classes that taught us how to type, getting us ready for higher education and the workplace, where those skills are essential. Kids need to develop digital literacy as the world becomes more tech-driven, and removing technology completely would actually set them back. How do you think we can strike a balance between limiting kids’ technology use and preparing them to succeed in a tech-savvy world? What would that middle ground look like?
Your example about a coworker sharing their personal number and disclosing personal experiences stood out to me because it shows how easily “support” can drift into something that feels more like a friendship. I agree with you that these situations often start with good intentions, which is exactly why they can be so hard to recognize in the moment. Reading your post made me think about how boundary violations aren’t always dramatic or obvious, they can build slowly through small decisions that feel harmless at the time. Your organization’s response, especially adding policies and training, highlights how important it is for agencies to create structures that help workers pause and reflect before crossing a professional boundary. I have noticed in my own work that having clear communication expectations upfront makes it easier to prevent confusion later.
Thank you all for leaving such thoughtful responses! I could not figure out how to reply to each individual comment, so I am just making a general one here.
Ncorrales2 – I am so glad you mentioned Roblox! This was a platform we specifically discussed. In the training, it was explained how adults groom children through Roblox and lure them into becoming active on Discord. Discord has no guidelines or restrictions for content posted, but Roblox is a “hunting ground,” so to speak, for predators to find potential victims. I agree that youth having a full range of technology can be really dangerous. In our efforts to implement protective factors, we have worked with parents to set parental controls and download device monitoring apps to help prevent tragic outcomes.
Iyannagreen – This is a great question! While I do not have all the answers, I feel there is no simple solution, but rather a complex integration of various interventions. In my opinion, your mention of computer labs to help students learn basic technology skills is a great way to ensure students have the skills necessary, while also allowing the removal of other devices within the educational setting.