SOCIAL WORK AND MANAGEMENT ›› 2026, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (2): 39-51.

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Building a Digital Cultural Environment: Ethical Challenges and Responses in the Digital Transformation of Social Work in China

CHANG Zhuo1, LIU Jinghong2, LI Yuzhi3   

  1. 1. School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China;
    2. School of Sociology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China;
    3. Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
  • Received:2025-03-18 Online:2026-03-15 Published:2026-03-15

Abstract: Digitalization, as a “fully realized social fact,” offers unprecedented opportunities for social work while simultaneously raising complex ethical challenges that demand proactive identification and systematic responses. The digital cultural environment in social work refers to the integrated context shaped by the application of digital technologies and the cultural values they embody. Such environment is instrumental in aligning digital technologies with the ethical principles of social work, thereby safeguarding the effective practice of professional ethics. Currently, social work in China exhibits distinct characteristics across three domains (institutions, services, and education) during digital transformation, each confronted with distinct ethical dilemmas. Specifically, the digital transformation of social work institutions is challenged by issues of privacy protection and informed consent. In the realm of service delivery, the digital transformation has introduced concerns such as algorithmic bias, service disruptions, and blurred boundaries of responsibilities. Within social work education, the digital transformation complicates the establishment of professional relationships and the cultivation of ethical sensitivity. In response, social work practitioners are called upon to lead the development of the digital cultural environment for social work, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration with the technology sector, enhance ethically informed technology design, set rigorous standards for technological access and application, and institute robust, nuanced ethical training programs to systematically mitigate ethical risks.

Key words: social work, digital transformation, ethical challenges, digital cultural environment

CLC Number: 

  • C916
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