The Role of Social Work Identity in Enhancing Professional Practices on Social Media Networks (X Platform as a Model)

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the role of social work identity in enhancing professional practices on social media platforms, using X as a case study. The research utilized   a social survey method, employing a Likert-type scale questionnaire administered to a purposive sample of 300 professional social workers in Saudi Arabia.

The findings revealed that 85.3% of the participants' workplaces had an account on the X platform, while 42.7% reported having active personal accounts on X dedicated to social work. The results also indicated a moderate role for independent professional practitioners in strengthening social work identity (mean = 1.82). This was achieved through activities on X such as promoting international awareness days and offering potential solutions to common social issues. Similarly, professional practitioners working under the umbrella of social work organizations demonstrated a moderate role in promoting social work identity (mean = 1.81). This was primarily achieved through utilizing the X platform to highlight the organization's community role and disseminate its news and activities. The study concluded with several recommendations, including encouraging practitioners to use the X platform to promote the social work profession within Saudi society. It also emphasized the importance of conducting interdisciplinary research that connects social work with media studies, paving the way for formulating a defined media role for professional practitioners.