Child protection social workers' perception of the phenomenon of online shaming directed at them

The phenomenon of Internet-based shaming of social workers in general, and child protection social workers specifically, has gained momentum in recent years. The growing power of the network, social networks particularly, has contributed to the dissemination of criticism and aggressive sentiments against child protection social workers on websites and social networks. These include the distribution of videos and material liable to cause incitement against the workers and their professional activities (Haaretz, 2014).  

Attacks in the media on the professionalism of child protection social workers is linked to their role as the "spearhead" of the society in addressing tasks related to the protection of minors at risk, the victims of adults supposedly responsible for them. Moreover, the role of the social worker working under the auspices of the law is trapped in a constant dissonance: between the role of "caregiver", helping families cope with their difficulties, and the role of enforcement agent, representing the legal authority of the state's welfare system.

This complex role means that child protection social workers, more than social workers in other fields, are the focus of personal, social, and sometimes even media criticism. With regards the last, media coverage of their work is for most part negative (Leggood, McGrath, Searle, & Lee 2016).

Finally, social workers mostly lack the tools conduct themselves to their best advantage in the media; they are not schooled in "speaking" the language of the mass media, a context and discourse very much removed from the professional language that they know (Ben Shlomo & Levin-Keini, 2017).

The objective of this study is to understand how child protection social workers perceive the shaming directed toward them and their colleagues on the Internet. Specifically, the study explores the unique experiences and conflicts that social workers face in this regard, and the implications of these attacks on their daily functioning and professional image.

The study was conducted by means of semi-structured interviews with 15 Israeli child protection social workers employed by social services departments, including some who had experienced Internet shaming, either through personal attacks directed at them, or through exposure to attacks on colleagues. The interviewees were all women, of different ages and with different levels of seniority and education. The interviews were all recorded and transcribed in full. The transcripts were analyzed in multiple stages, from the identification of analytical categories to the construction of central themes.

An analysis of the findings revealed a picture of powerful and negative emotions on the part of the interviewees; these emotions included helplessness, impotence, fear and devastation. These emotions affected both their personal and professional functioning, as well as their ability to make critical decisions regarding the fate of children at risk and their families.

The interviewees were critical of their professional environment, and the inability of the system to deal with the phenomenon of shaming. Additionally, an analysis of the interviewees' experiences of the phenomenon of shaming revealed a dichotomous perception of the public and professional reality in which they operate. This dichotomous perception was expressed through the use of the terms "us" and "them," underlining a sense of alienation and lack of communication between the various stakeholder circles described by the interviewees: the supervisors, the clientele, the media, and the general public.

The interviewees pointed to the very low professional image of social workers in general, particularly with regard to child protection social workers. The factors highlighting the negative impact on their image included a lack of organization in work processes; the lack of understanding of the importance of promoting the profession; and working with high-risk populations. The interviewees also identified an imbalance between the way social work is portrayed in the media, and how it is promoted and presented by the profession itself. In this context, the interviewees reported that they did not feel they had the tools to cope with media challenges—due, in part, to gaps in technical knowledge, a sense of lack of support and legitimacy with regard to these issues, and ethical dilemmas. These contribute to the public anger directed toward social workers.

The findings were divided into major themes. These considered the process of choosing the profession and subsequent training; the status of the social worker in the media; the shaming phenomenon directed toward social workers; and finally, the personal and professional resources of the social worker

The findings of the study enrich existing knowledge regarding all aspects of the shaming phenomenon directed toward child protection social workers, presenting a multi-faceted exploration of the issue. From a practical point of view, the study highlights the need for large-scale intervention to support social workers who have been subjected online shaming, with regard to both their mental well-being and their professional functioning. The Discussion section proposes that intervention should be offered, at the state and the employer level, in connection with familiarizing social workers with the media.