Ethical reflections on social media use within music therapy: A conversational focus group study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Social media has transformed how music therapists work, with numerous practitioners utilizing the affordances of social media in music therapy practice. So far, music therapy research has been significantly limited regarding the ethical implications of social media use. A better understanding of the ethics of social media use is needed to inform the continuous evaluation of professional ethical guidelines. Methods We conducted a systematic text condensation of transcripts from one conversational focus group consisting of five participants with diverse connections to music therapy and social media. Results The results highlight the many ways social media can facilitate both substantial value as well as serious risk in music therapy practice. Through the analysis, it has also become clear that music therapists must make complex considerations in working with social media to maintain a level of responsible practice. Discussion This study provides (a) insights and experiences from practice gathered in a conversational focus group, (b) discussions exploring the possible value and risks of social media use in music therapy, and (c) implications for practice including a summary of some ethical reflections.