EMPOWERING SOCIAL WORK THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES: BENEFITS, OUTCOMES, AND CHALLENGES

<jats:p>This article examines the application advantages, practical effectiveness and challenges of digital technology in social work. In terms of application advantages, digital technology has improved the effectiveness of social work, simplified the workflow, expanded the service field, and spawned a variety of new service models. It can also accurately identify needs and carry out personalized interventions to improve service quality. At the same time, it reduces service thresholds and restrictions, enhances service popularization and convenience, and promotes social participation and field innovation. In terms of practical effectiveness, digital technology has achieved remarkable results in many fields such as community governance, social assistance, elderly care services, and child welfare. However, the application of digital technology also faces many challenges, including data security and privacy protection, insufficient digital literacy of practitioners, technological ethical risks, and the digital divide may exacerbate service injustice. This article proposes that in the future, through policy guidance, talent training and technological innovation, we should work together to promote the empowerment of digital technology, while ensuring that the humanistic care of social work is not obscured, and realize the organic unity of technological empowerment and people oriented.</jats:p>