| Student use of online social networks has increased exponentially in the past five years. Facebook is one of the largest and most utilized by students. Many counseling students use Facebook on a regular basis to keep in touch with friends, family, and acquaintances. (Lenhart & Madden, 2007). Current American Counseling Association (ACA) ethical codes do not address online social networking and leave many gray areas for students to interpret when using online social networking, which could have a negative impact on their ability to interact with peers, supervisors, and clients in the most ethical way possible (ACA, 2005). The purpose of this study is to look at how students view online social networking on Facebook and how those actions relate to current ethical codes. As more understanding is gained of student's perceptions of ethical codes then current codes can be adapted accommodate the use of online social networking. |
