Through the Reamer Lens
In the article Social Work Boundary Issues in the Digital Age: Reflections of an Ethics Expert, Reamer discusses how the digital age has blurred the boundaries of practitioners and clients, increasing the risk of ethical challenges and possible confusion on responsible technology use. One concern I have had in my personal life has been the use of virtual communication methods and how it could conflict in my professional career. When I was a guidance teacher in Shakawe, students wanted to connect through media platforms like Facebook or WhatsApp. Although I made sure to clearly establish my social media and personal boundaries to students and clients that I interacted with, I was nervous about the well-being of those vulnerable populations. In the guidance department we served a lot of students who were OVC (Orphans and Vulnerable Children). Things like suicidal ideation and depression were common issues that students were facing, which at times made me conflicted. Due to the rural environment and traditional beliefs in Shakawe, addressing mental health challenges was difficult, resources were limited, and Wi-Fi availability made it difficult for people to receive telehealth services. I wanted to support my clients who were struggling with these issues by making myself more available for those in need to avoid crisis situations, especially taking into account that many students would encounter dangerous situations outside of school hours since it was a boarding school. Despite this, I also did not want to create an uncomfortable situation where students were contacting me constantly or virtual communications potentially blurring boundaries or being misinterpreted for proper use. It was challenging at the time because there were instances where I felt students weren’t getting adequate support or assistance and may be at risk. I think Reamer brings up a good point about how altruistic inclinations in practitioners no matter how well intentioned can lead to boundary confusion and communication being misinterpreted (Reamer, 2024, pg. 383). Establishing boundaries is crucial to the social work field to protect both the client and practitioner alike which at times can limit how far we can help an individual while maintaining ethical standards. Even connecting to people through social media from friends and family can sometimes blur the line if they end up getting services later. This also highlights how important separating work and professional life is as well. As practitioners, it is important to remain diligent and adhere to responsible technology use without compromising your position as a professional.
Haidt in the Room with Your Clients
Haidt and Rausch both make strong arguments against technology use in youth. Although the evidence they presented may hold true when talking about youth, if the focus shifted to a different population, I don’t think it applies necessarily. When looking at the elderly or people with disabilities, technology has made connecting with people easier. For the elderly it can make it easier to connect with friends and family who live far away or maybe find interests that keep them active and involved in their community like a community garden. Sometimes health conditions can make travel and social interactions hard so mediums like Facetime and Facebook allow people to connect in a comfortable way. When looking at people living with disabilities, technology has made it easier for people to form virtual support groups and communities through interests like gaming which promote positive social interaction. In my personal life, I have a lot of family who live far away like St. Lucia and Canada. Before it was kind of hard to stay in touch due to things like international calls being expensive, health challenges, expensive travel costs, and time differences. Now through social media apps like Facebook and Whatsapp, we can communicate with ease without worrying about potential financial burdens or health conditions limiting interactions. Although technology use can have negative effects on some populations like youth, it is important to consider the benefits of other vulnerable populations like the elderly or disabled. Technology has transformed the way these populations can receive services, form support groups, and maintain their independence without feeling isolated which is a big improvement. Like a lot of things in life, too much of something can be detrimental. In my opinion, finding a balance that emphasizes proper technology use in moderation and establishes boundaries that deters reliance is a better approach to this argument.
References
Reamer, F. G. (2024). Social Work Boundary Issues in the Digital Age: Reflections of an Ethics Expert. Advances in Social Work. https://doi.org/10.18060/26358
Haidt, J., & Rausch, Z. (2026, April 9). The case against social media: Seven lines of evidence. After Babel. https://www.afterbabel.com/p/seven-lines-of-evidence-against-social-media?r=32tyct&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true
Haidt, J. (2026, May 29). How screens stole childhood — and how to get it back [Video]. TED Talks. https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_how_screens_stole_childhood_and_how_to_get_it_back
I understand your point of wanting to provide support during crisis. When I first started working as a case manager, I wanted to always be available in case of emergency’s. I always responded to calls or texts outside of working hours, so much so that clients became upset if I did not respond immediately. Because I did not initially set a boundary, it became an issue. Caring about our clients well-being while also setting boundaries can be difficult. It is important for social workers to understand that maintaining boundaries helps establish clear expectations. Supporting clients in a crisis is very important but social workers must have a balance.