With the rise of high speed internet connections and web enabled cell phones, it is easier than ever to find
and access information on the Internet. As more people turn to the Internet for news and information,
traditional media sources like newspapers, print magazines, and even encyclopedias are slowly going extinct.
For breaking news, people now turn to Twitter. For information on US History, people now use Wikipedia. To
interact with friends and relatives, people now use Facebook.
The Internet has forced us to redefine our definition of privacy, and as more people depend on the Internet for
information and support, it is more important than ever to ensure that people understand both the positive
(support groups, access to information) and negative (misinformation, cyberbullying) aspects of the Internet
and social media. Professionals in the field of social work cannot ignore these new forms of media and
communication and must help ensure that clients and patients are using reputable sources of information.
How has greater access to information and the rise of social media impacted the field of social work?
List three positive and three negative ways: