This comparison draws in part from “The Double Edged Scroll: Navigating Accessibility, Benefits and Risks of Social Media” by Laurie Bonavita, PhD, LABA, BCBA-D (BehaviorLive), and extends it with peer-reviewed research from our library of 27,900+ ABA research articles. The decision framework, BACB ethics code references, and cross-links below are synthesized by Behaviorist Book Club.
View the original presentation →One of the most consequential decisions a behavior analyst makes is not just what intervention to use, but how to approach the clinical question in the first place. For the double edged scroll: navigating accessibility, benefits and risks of social media, the difference between an evidence-based, individualized approach and a traditional, protocol-driven one can significantly impact outcomes.
This guide lays out the key factors side by side to support your clinical decision-making.
| Factor | Evidence-Based Approach | Traditional Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Reduction | Restricted Access: Immediately reduces exposure to online risk contexts; effective as a short-term safety measure in high-risk situations | Supported Literacy: Reduces risk through skill development; produces more durable protection as the client ages into contexts where access cannot be controlled |
| Client Autonomy | Restricted Access: Limits the client's ability to access peer community and social connection; may be experienced as punitive and damage therapeutic alliance with caregivers | Supported Literacy: Respects developing autonomy while building the skills needed to exercise it safely; more aligned with age-appropriate independence goals |
| Generalization | Restricted Access: Does not develop transferable skills; when restriction is lifted or circumvented, the client returns to the same risk profile | Supported Literacy: Builds skills that generalize across platforms, relationships, and contexts; addresses the underlying deficits that create risk |
| Family Burden | Restricted Access: Lower skill-training burden but higher monitoring burden; families must actively enforce restrictions across all access points | Supported Literacy: Requires investment in parent coaching and skill instruction; ongoing coaching support may be needed during the skill-building phase |
| Appropriate Use Case | Restricted Access: Most appropriate for younger children, following a serious safety incident, or when a specific platform is the identified risk context | Supported Literacy: Most appropriate for adolescents and adults, for proactive prevention, and for clients who have demonstrated social media interest and peer connection benefit |
| Long-Term Sustainability | Restricted Access: Decreases in feasibility as clients age; adults cannot have access restricted without significant autonomy violation | Supported Literacy: Produces sustained protection that does not require caregiver enforcement; increasingly important as client transitions to adulthood |
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ on-demand CEUs including ethics, supervision, and clinical topics like this one. Plus a new live CEU every Wednesday.
Use this framework when approaching the double edged scroll: navigating accessibility, benefits and risks of social media in your practice:
Does the data support a need for intervention? Is there a meaningful impact on the individual's quality of life, safety, or access to reinforcement?
YES → Proceed to assessment NO → Document reasoning, monitor
A functional assessment should guide intervention selection. Avoid defaulting to standard protocols without individual analysis. Consider environmental variables, setting events, and private events.
YES → Select evidence-based approach matched to function NO → Complete assessment first
Goals should be co-developed. Assent and informed consent are ethical requirements. The individual's preferences and values matter in selecting both goals and methods.
YES → Proceed with collaborative plan NO → Engage in shared decision-making
This course covers the clinical and ethical dimensions in detail with structured learning objectives and CEU credit.
The Double Edged Scroll: Navigating Accessibility, Benefits and Risks of Social Media — Laurie Bonavita · 1 BACB General CEUs · $0
Take This Course →We extended this decision guide with research from our library — dig into the peer-reviewed studies behind each approach, in plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
188 research articles with practitioner takeaways
183 research articles with practitioner takeaways
183 research articles with practitioner takeaways
1 BACB General CEUs · $0 · BehaviorLive
Research-backed educational guide
Research-backed answers for behavior analysts
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.