My perspective

By Justine O’Brien, MSW ’23, CASAC

We live in a world that is mostly online. For many of us, even our jobs have moved online and away from a formal office. We can stay connected when we’re so far apart by embracing social media — and not just in our personal lives.

Here’s why you should use social media professionally:

1.  As a social worker, you can reach new audiences by embracing different platforms — and there are many to choose from. Using Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or LinkedIn, social workers are now reaching people from across the world unlike ever before, and we’re loving it.
2. You can help #StompOutStigma around mental health and substance use disorders with a few clicks of a button. Organizations like the Trevor Project and To Write Love on Her Arms often rely heavily on social media campaigns to raise awareness. As social workers, we can be a voice for all by liking, commenting and sharing our own stories.
3. You can be creative and authentic! Social media allows social workers to be creative in ways we haven’t been in the past. There are TikTok channels devoted to social workers sharing new evidence-based practices and other insights and knowledge — and having fun while doing it. Now, outsiders can see social workers as real and human, and we can hopefully draw more people into the field.
4. During a crisis, you can immediately share resources, advocate for community needs and offer practical support. For example, you can jump on Facebook or Twitter to share information on organizations offering support or organize a relief effort yourself. Social media was incredibly useful following the 2022 Buffalo mass shooting, with local social workers leading the way in offering support and resources quickly.
   
5. You can find supports of your own. Using websites like LinkedIn, you can find new jobs, post your résumé, meet peers and find new mentors. You can also share what you’re doing professionally, including upcoming publications or presentations. Social media helps keep social workers connected, which became especially important during the pandemic. 

If you’re on social media, be mindful of ethical considerations and maintaining boundaries. Check privacy settings to ensure you’re sharing content only with those who you mean to, and be aware that once something is on the internet, it’s there to stay.

Social media is a great tool that allows social workers to reach a large audience, destigmatize mental health, show off our creative sides, engage in meaningful crisis response and build our support network. Let’s embrace social media, one share at a time.