Emerging Technologies in Social Work: Solutions and Challenges to Traditional and Modern Interventions

Introduction: This study explores the utilization modern and emerging technologies in social work as efficacious interventions for traditionally oppressed, marginalized, and isolated populations. Methods: This study uses a dialogic approach to explore literature on traditional interventions, modern technologies, and emerging technologies. The discussion centers around two research questions: What are the current emerging technologies? How can current emerging technologies differ in their approaches to address the previously perceived lack of modern technologies’ necessary social tools and contexts to act as suitable alternatives to traditional social exchanges and interactions? Findings & Implications: The solutions that emerging technologies offer far outweighs the challenges surrounding access, cost, and fear. For social workers, the potential to use emerging technologies to correct social injustices are boundless. The implications for emerging technologies are broad and include reducing barriers to mental health services, providing a more intuitive and realistic experience, and mitigating the impact of disabling conditions. For many Americans, emerging technologies will come to act as efficacious interventions for a myriad of issues. Future research in social work should focus on innovative technological interventions that can mitigate serious disabling conditions, and the plethora of social issues where emerging technologies can intersect and intercede social injustices.