The document discusses a social worker's ethical dilemma regarding conducting online searches of clients on social media without consent. While common practice among their colleagues, it violates the NASW Code of Ethics which requires client consent before electronic searches and compelling reasons to obtain private client information. The social worker outlines a plan to address the dilemma by discussing it with their supervisor, following agency guidelines, and potentially working to update the Code of Ethics if needed to reflect changes in modern practice standards and culture.

1. SOWK 602: Social
Work Law and Ethics
Personal Bias in
Ethics
Jeanette Marco
Department of Social Work,
University of Massachusetts
Global
Georgina A. Yoshioka Mora,
D.S.W., L.C.S.W.
January 14, 2023
Shutterstock, n.d.

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

3. The authors researched social workers views on five questions related to the use of social media.
The questions that were of focus for my ethical dilemma were, “How does social media help
and/or hinder practice? … [and] Are professionals “looking up” supported families?”
(Grammenos and Warner, 2022, p. 7). Because of a shortage of quantitative data regarding how
social workers use social media, surveys were sent, received, and quantitative along with
qualitative data was compiled. The results shown that social workers have strong opinions about
the use of social media surveillance of clients, but the opinions were inconsistent, and almost
divided evenly that such surveillance both helped and hindered the social worker. The age and
role of the social worker were the biggest indicators of the type of opinion held by the
respondents, with social workers who were aged 25-35 being the largest population that saw the
benefit of social media research or surveillance. Despite the behavior of social media surveillance
being discouraged by the NASW Code of Ethics, 30% confessed to using the practice, with one
respondent reporting that their agency is considering incorporating the practice into policy. The
authors shared that this study was performed prior to the considerable increase of the use of
social media because of the covid pandemic and predicts that if the study would be replicated
that the percentage of social worker’s opinions may not be as balanced.
Summary:

4. The ethical dilemma that I would have is that I see the benefit of conducting electronic, or social media
searches in Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the purpose of researching the family members when a
child abuse report has been filed. The practice is so normalized by the social workers I work with that I was
not even aware it was contrary to the Code of Ethics until I listened to the interview with Dr. Allan Barsky
(Singer, 2018).
The root of this ethical dilemma is that when a child abuse investigation begins, it is beneficial to interview
the victim child or children and any possible siblings before adult family members have any opportunity to
coach the child, which is contrary to one portion of the Code. And it is unknown if there are compelling
reasons to conduct a social media search until after the search is complete, which is contrary to another
portion of the code (National Association of Social Workers, NASW, 2021a).
I believe that this is a case of the culture changing and the Code of Ethics not yet reflecting the change;
Much like the revision to section 1.05 to include the term “cultural humility” among other things with the
last revision of the Code of Ethics (National Association of Social Workers, NASW, 2021b).
The Dilemma:

5. The NASW Ethical Standards that are related to my
dilemma are 1.03(i) and 1.07(a). The portion of the
standards that most affects the dilemma are:
“Social workers should obtain client consent before
conducting an electronic search on the client” (NASW,
2021a, 1.03(i))
&
“Social workers should not solicit private information …
about clients except for compelling professional reasons.”
(NASW, 2021a, 1.07(a)).
The Ethical
Standards:

6. While the current NASW Code of Ethics seem to be directing
my behavior one way, my agency is directing different behavior.
To avoid violating and standards related to colleagues (NASW,
2021b), I will want to take a scaffold approach to attempt to
address my dilemma.
Step One: Speak with my Supervisor about the inconsistency
with the current practice and the Code of Ethics.
Step Two: Follow my supervisor’s guidelines on how to
proceed in the future.
Step Three: Look out for the NASW email asking for
volunteers to work on the Code of Ethics revision and join a
committee.
Step Four: Share my concerns with the committee to see if it
is feasible to update the code to be consistent with the current
culture.
Step Five: If my proposed updates are accepted, I have done
my part to maintain high standards for the profession. If my
proposed updates are not accepted, I will return to step three
again, assuming the culture is the same.
Evaluate &
Address
the
Dilemma:

7. References:
Grammenos, S., & Warner, N. (2022). Social Media: Social Workers’ Views on Its Applications, Benefits and Drawbacks
for Professional Practice. Practice (09503153), 34(2), 117–132. https://doi-
org.umassglobal.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/09503153.2021.1972092
National Association of Social Workers, NASW. (2021a). Highlighted Revisions to the Code of Ethics. NASW, National
Association of Social Workers. Retrieved January 14, 2023, from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-
Ethics/Highlighted-Revisions-to-the-Code-of-Ethics
National Association of Social Workers, NASW (2021b). Read the code of ethics. NASW – National Association of Social
Workers. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English.
Reamer, F. G. (2015, September). Eye on Ethics: To Google or Not to Google: That Is the Question. Social Work Today.
https://www.socialworktoday.com/news/eoe_092215.shtml
Shutterstock (n.d.) Computer Image. https://www.shutterstock.com/search/person-at-a-
computer?c3apidt=p11277540745&ds_rl=1243391&gclid=CjwKCAiAwomeBhBWEiwAM43YICniE1QJ574VbW4QR
5rFhSIoHlBEVJqpbiys535guZcm7d_TnyoDYBoC2sYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&kw=shutterstock
Singer, J. (2018, January 3). 2018 NASW Code of ethics (part 1): Interview with Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD. The Social
Work Podcast. https://socialworkpodcast.blogspot.com/2018/01/Ethics2018-1.html