Social Media: Social Workers’ Views on Its Applications, Benefits and Drawbacks for Professional Practice

Awareness about current use of social media in work and its benefits drawbacks is lacking. An online questionnaire collected data from a sample 569 participants within across different local authorities. Nearly third (30%) said that they had used to ‘look up’ families support, while less than half (47%) felt adequately trained using practice. Participants helped practice by facilitating communication both with professionals service users, but hindered disseminating negative portrayal workers, enabling users identify them online, making vulnerable. Opinions varied on whether it was acceptable families. Results highlighted digital difference age professional role being influential the way used. Findings indicated need for clearer guidance enable standardised code practice, awareness this needs be raised regularly updated.