Psychology Graduate Training in the Era of Online Social Networking

This article offers information on various forms of online social networking and recommendations on integrating this topic into psychology graduate training. Psychology graduate student trainees are likely to utilize online social networking for both personal and professional communication, which can have implications regarding the professional and ethical practice of psychology. There is a need for professionals involved in education and supervision to gain information on trainees' use of online social networking sites and address the implications of such use from a training perspective. In order to facilitate the integration of online social networking into psychology graduate training, the article provides information on the benefits of online social networking, such as information-sharing, networking opportunities, advocacy, and advertisement, as well as the risks associated with the use of online social networking, such as personal privacy risks, problems with credibility of information, and ethical and legal concerns. The article further explains issues related to online social networking that are specific to graduate training, such as supervisory relationships and concerns related to professional competency. There are recommendations on integrating the topic into psychology graduate training based on guidance from the APA Code of Ethics and recommendations from professionals in the field.