Social media is a great place for people to express themselves. Facebook status, Twitter updates, uploading of Youtube videos; they help to portray your views and can be used to transmit informal education for the audience.
“Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which the knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through story telling, discussion, teaching, training, and or research. Education may also include informal transmission of such information from one human being to another.” -Wikipedia
As compared to the real world, there are restrictions and limitations to social etiquette and manners. People feel a greater sense of freedom of speech and expression online. Of cause, it brings many advantages to individuals and even businesses. But what is the ethical issue raised up by the informal educational use of the internet?
Let’s take a look at a case study which I believe most of us are familiar with. A YouTube video titled “Why I am not proud to be Singaporean.” by Stephanie Koh
The video with over 1 million views has outraged many Singaporeans
Here’s another video on how parents react to her “nasty” comments on Singapore.
So, is there a place for ethics on the internet? According to Roger Darlington, we first need to understand the grand word ‘ethics’ means in this context.
Acceptance that the Internet is not a value-free zone
World Wide Web ≠ wild wild Web
It is a place where values should take a part in shaping content and services. The Internet is not something apart from civil society, but a fundamental component of it.
Sensitivity to national and local cultures
We need to recognize that while most Internet users were white, male Americans originally, now the Internet BELONGS TO ALL. Therefore, it cannot be subject to only one set of values. We have to accommodate a multiplicity of values and cultures.
My Recommendations
Exercise sound judgement before uploading any information or sensitive opinions online.
Understand that everything that you post online may pose as a double-edge sword. It may work for or against you.
Be globally-aware.
Be ethical.
Ultimately, it is not about Star Wars, a battle between the good and the evil but a matter of the differences in values which can be resolved by education or debates.
What do you think?
References:
Devaney, L. (2014). Steps for successful classroom social media use | eSchool News | eSchool News. [online] Eschoolnews.com. Available at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/02/04/successful-social-media-835/? [Accessed 5 Dec. 2014].
Internet Ethics. 2002. Internet Ethics. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.rogerdarlington.co.uk/Internetethics.html. [Accessed 05 December 2014].
Social Media and Freedom of Expression. 2014. Social Media and Freedom of Expression. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.wearesocialpeople.com/social-media-and-freedom-of-expression-for-better-for-worse/ [Accessed 05 December 2014].
Education – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2014. Education – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education. [Accessed 05 December 2014].
CrossingThought. 
Hi Zoie,
I agree that one of the social ethics on the web could be due to the differences of values, morals and cultures. Being brought up in different environment and society of different backgrounds, I believe we tend to see some things differently. In a report by Karen Allen, Ph.D., LMSW, she mentioned that in determining what constitutes an ethical dilemma, it is necessary to make a distinction between ethics, values, morals, and laws and policies which I found that it really make sense with your discussion. In addition to that, there was a recent hacking incident of Petaluma High School student MySpace accounts and the posting of threatening messages highlighted some possible harms of social networking.
Your post brings me to my question for you.
Since you mentioned about values. Some people believe social networking sites offer the ultimate ‘equalism’ because when we interact and engage online, we do not know whether they are white, black, male or female, young or old. Do you think this will disembody quality of the online world leading to greater fairness, or will we lose the ability to engage concretely with others, and therefore truly overcome differences?
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Hello Winnie! Appreciate your comment!
Yes, I agree with you that social networking sites offer ‘equalism’ to a certain extent. Personally, I feel that it only applies in situations when people have a difference in value, cultures, etc which are usually distinguished between the different race, age, gender, etc. However, there are some instances that a subject is generally or socially acceptable and it can influence the masses regardless of the type of person who posted it online. Such an example will be: http://www.eyeopening.info/2014/11/10/wrote-on-her-daughters-facebook/#.VIUtiTGUf4J
Even they are white people, the post has still an impact to the general audience. As a result, there is not a need to overcome difference and establish fairness for such a case. 🙂
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