Social Media and the RBT Ethics Code
Social media is where most ethics violations now happen. The instinct to share a meaningful work moment runs head-on into HIPAA, the BACB Ethics Code, and the principle of client dignity. The BACB does not prohibit RBTs from using social media — but it requires that you never compromise a client's privacy or your professional credibility.
Things That Are Always Violations
- Posting any photo of the client, even with face blurred or shown from behind
- Posting a photo of the session location (identifying the family by neighborhood, school, or home interior)
- Describing a session — even without names — in enough detail that someone could identify the client
- "Venting" about a difficult session, a difficult client, or a difficult parent online
- Friending or following clients or their family members on personal accounts
- Accepting friend requests from clients' parents on personal accounts
- Sharing your professional opinion on the diagnosis or behavior of any specific case
Even "Anonymous" Posts Are Identifiable
Privacy researchers have repeatedly shown that "anonymized" posts can be re-identified through context — the school name, the neighborhood, the date, the unique behavior. Your post may also be screenshot and circulated by people who recognize the case. Assume nothing online is truly private.
What You CAN Do
- Post generic ABA educational content (research articles, BACB updates, conference summaries)
- Share your own career milestones (passing the RBT exam, earning a CEU)
- Engage with professional ABA communities on LinkedIn or industry forums
- Use a strictly separated professional social presence (LinkedIn) from your personal accounts
If You Already Posted Something Questionable
Delete it immediately and document the date/time you removed it. Notify your supervisor proactively — supervisors and the BACB respond more favorably to self-reported, self-corrected issues than to those discovered by others.