Charles Sturt University - Ethical Case Study: Broken Heart

This essay critically analyzes the ethical implications of using social media, specifically Facebook, as a platform for individuals experiencing heartbreak, using the 'Targeting a Broken Heart' case study. It examines the situation through the lenses of four classical ethical theories: utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and contract theory. The analysis considers the potential benefits and drawbacks of expressing emotional vulnerability online, the ethical responsibilities of social media platforms regarding user data and privacy, and the broader societal impact of these practices. The essay concludes with an overall assessment of the ethical considerations, providing justified recommendations based on the theoretical frameworks discussed.

Running head: Targeting a broken Heart: An ethical case study 0
TARGETING A BROKEN HEART: AN ETHICS CASE STUDY

Targeting a broken Heart: An ethical case study 1
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................2
Utilitarianism Theory..................................................................................................................................2
Deontology Theory......................................................................................................................................3
Virtue Theory..............................................................................................................................................3
Contract Theory...........................................................................................................................................4
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................4
Reference List.............................................................................................................................................6

Targeting a broken Heart: An ethical case study 2
Introduction
Within today’s world, the concern of the emotion displaying aspects is taken to be displayed
through many ways. One of the most profound ways is taken through social media aspects. Social media
plays a vital role is producing the desired platform especially for those who are suffering from broken
heart or any sort of such practises. Regarding such, the concern of the content switches to alignment of
theoretical perspective (utilitarianism, deontology, virtue and contract) to the use of the social media
especially facebook producing a platform for broken hearts to produce their emotional behaviour. Apart
from the theoretical perspective, an overall conclusion has been derived to produce the conclusive
portions of the content.
Utilitarianism Theory
Utilitarianism theory refers to the concept of moral happiness of people (Peters, 2015).
According to the principle of Utility approves that the taken action is correct or not by analysing
the outcome of it. If people choose a wrong action for the eradication of certain problems in their
lives, then it could increase their problem. Their problem becomes more critical and long lasting
and it can make their life intolerable. Therefore, in the opinion of Shapiro & Stefkovich (2016),
utilitarian theory gives emphasis on saving two lives instead of one.
In relevance of the theory, there are presences of several platforms for producing the
emotional behaviour among with social platforms are the most chosen among the individual such
as facebook posts. Through posting any sort of breakup posts from both genders, the concern
switches toward the outcome being both favourable as well as non favourable. In the case study,
people try their best to overcome their breakups with the help of Facebook and other social
media (Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, 2018). They post their status a few days after their
break up which instead reminds them of the incident and increases their pain (Bennett &
Huberman, 2015). As the people of social media remind them of that sorrow when later people
comment on it. Moreover, as per the ICT ethical norms, personal post cannot be used by others
(Hörisch, Freeman & Schaltegger, 2014). In case of Facebook, people use this post and transfer
the signal to advertisement companies for benefits, which is the breaching of act. They try to
forget their sadness by travelling with friends, or shopping, or going to hang out with friends as
suggested by their friends on social media (Ihekwuaba & Anthonia, 2016). By maintaining

Targeting a broken Heart: An ethical case study 3
privacy, Facebook can apply the perception of theory properly (Schwartz, 2016). . The people
should not take these social media very lightly, because they can get access to their personal data
very easily, and misuse them.
Deontology Theory
The theory deontology encourages people to select a right action instead of an action
which is beneficial for them. As opined by Öhman & Floridi (2017), the theory has tried to
develop relationship between duty and morality of an individual. Initially, it may seem like the
path in which they are going is a tough one, but later it will fetch them good outcome. The right
task always brings out the right result. If they select the beneficial action to remove certain
problems in their lives, it will, later on, increase the problem. Further, it will create more vital
and serious problems in their lives.
Concerning present context, it is seen evident that the use of facebook has more positive
remarks regarding the sharing of breakup posts rather than using any other ways of solving the
issue. However, according to the Deontology Theory, it is termed to be unethical and hence
reflects the breach of ethics rule. Facebook is providing their personal data to the marketing and
advertising companies for their own benefit, which is absolutely an illegal offense. Initially, the
companies like tour and travel companies and some shopping sites offer huge offers and the
person acquires some pleasure from them. Afterward, the person realizes that its problem is
arising again in a different way. No company has the rights to play with the emotions of any
person for their own profit. It is totally an unethical act. Facebook and other social media should
always be careful with their privacy and security policies. They should not do any task which
could break their user’s belief upon them.
Virtue Theory
According to this theory few people have their virtual philosophy. As per Shohet (2018),
they find their virtual happiness from some actions which are not right. Eudemonism is a type of
virtual theory according to which eudemonia is a goal of some people's life. This tells us that
good person will certainly lead a good life in their future. It can be achieved by doing some good

Targeting a broken Heart: An ethical case study 4
job every day. This theory helps to develop their character. There are different types of virtuous
attributes such as virtue of courage, virtue of generosity, virtue of honesty, and so on.
In the present case study, Facebook, uses the personal data of the people for their
personal benefit. This is totally an unethical act. According to the theory, whether the action is
correct or not can be analyzed based on its previous works. As Facebook is decoding people's
personal posts from early time, this action must be considered as unethical. Facebook is not only
using the personal data but also playing with the emotions of the people. Virtue theory does not
accept the wrong work on Facebook as this should not be the character of social media. A social
media should keep the faith of their users upon themselves. It should not manipulate its terms
and conditions for mere benefits.
Contract Theory
There are always some rules and regulations that should be followed by everyone. For
example, living in a society, one has to follow, the rules and regulations of the society both by
paperwork as well as psychologically. The maintenance of paperwork in legal documents is
known as contract theory. As stated by Shapiro & Stefkovich (2016) there is a contract which is
signed when entering into a society not through paperwork, but through psychologically. It is the
ethical theory of making agreements, to save some ethical values of life.
When an account is created on Facebook, they show in the terms and conditions that they
are maintaining the privacy policies of the users. Mismatch of ethical concern sustains in cases
where the social media application misuse the user’s information despite of staying under certain
terms and conditions with the user. There are found several incidents for data leakage through
facebook especially, that hinders privacy aspects for the user as well as increases trust issues. As
per Spence (2016), both the users and the social media should be careful. People should not
blindly trust on any social media. The social media also need to be trustworthy. It should not take
advantage of anyone's faith in them. It could seriously hamper their relationship with users and
they might lose the market reputation. Therefore, the Facebook authority needs to follow the
ethics in order to maintain privacy of the status of users.
Conclusion

Targeting a broken Heart: An ethical case study 5
From the above content, various conclusions can be derived. Concerning to that of
utilitarian theory, it is evident that the face book usage for posting breakups has their positive as
well as negative sides. The consequences for the post reveal negative impact over the user
through reviving the sad memories in case when the application produces memory revival. For
such, in time of posting the status, it creates happiness within the user while triggers the memory
after a few duration. The deontological theory produces the conclusion for facebook usage
regarding breakup posts through sustaining the opposition fact for taking the correct action
against posting the breakup posts. From that of virtue and contract theory, the concern of nature
along with societal culture comes into play. It considers having the acceptances over the posting
breakup posts in facebook rather than being cognitive toward the producing data breaches for the
users.

Targeting a broken Heart: An ethical case study 6
Reference List
Books
Peters, R. S. (2015). Ethics and Education (Routledge Revivals). Abingdon: Routledge.Retrieved
from: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781317494782
Shapiro, J. P., & Stefkovich, J. A. (2016). Ethical leadership and decision making in education:
Applying theoretical perspectives to complex dilemmas. Abingdon: Routledge. Retrieved
from: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781317681113
Journals
Bennett, J., & Huberman, J. (2015). From monuments to megapixels: Death, memory, and
symbolic immortality in the contemporary United States. Anthropological Theory, 15(3),
338-357. Retrieved from:
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1463499615575943
Hörisch, J., Freeman, R. E., & Schaltegger, S. (2014). Applying stakeholder theory in
sustainability management: Links, similarities, dissimilarities, and a conceptual
framework. Organization& Environment, 27(4), 328-346. Retrieved from:
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1086026614535786
Ihekwuaba, O. N., & Anthonia, A. I. (2016). INFLUENCE OF WIDOWHOOD PRACTICES
ON THE PSYCHO-SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF WIDOWS IN
SELECTED STATES OF SOUTH-EASTERN, NIGERIA. European Journal of
Research and Reflection in Educational Sciences Vol, 4(6). Retrieved from:
http://www.idpublications.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Full-Paper-INFLUENCE-
OF-WIDOWHOOD-PRACTICES-ON-THE-PSYCHO-SOCIAL-AND-PHYSICAL-
HEALTH-OF-WIDOWS-IN-SELECTED-STATES.pdf
Schwartz, M. S. (2016). Ethical decision-making theory: An integrated approach. Journal of
Business Ethics, 139(4), 755-776. Retrieved from:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10551-015-2886-8
Shohet, M. (2018). Two deaths and a funeral: Ritual inscriptions’ affordances for mourning and
moral personhood in Vietnam. American Ethnologist, 45(1), 60-73. Retrieved from:
https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/amet.12599

Targeting a broken Heart: An ethical case study 7
Spence, L. J. (2016). Small business social responsibility: Expanding core CSR theory. Business
& Society, 55(1), 23-55. Retrieved from:
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0007650314523256
Online article
Öhman, C., & Floridi, L. (2017). The political economy of death in the age of information: a
critical approach to the digital afterlife industry. Minds and Machines, [Online] 27(4),
639-662. Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11023-017-9445
Website
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, (2018), Targeting a Broken Heart, Retrieved from
https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/internet-ethics/resources/targeting-a-broken-
heart/ on 16/8/2018