Ethics Essay: Social Media Regulation and Societal Dangers

This essay examines the ethical considerations surrounding social media platforms and argues for their regulation. It begins by highlighting the rapid technological changes and the widespread influence of social media, citing a CNBC case study. The essay then applies ethical theories, including utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and contract theory, to analyze the impact of social media on individuals and society. It discusses how these theories can be used to evaluate the moral implications of user behavior, the importance of content authenticity, and the effects of social media on moral development. The essay concludes by emphasizing the need for users to consider ethical frameworks before posting content and reiterates the importance of regulating social media to mitigate its negative impacts. The essay draws on various sources to support its arguments, including research on user motivations, the impact of social media on politics and business, and the effects of cyberbullying.

Running Head: Ethics 1
Ethics

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Essay topic: Social media platforms present dangerous issues for society. They need to be
regulated.
Introduction:
Changes have occurred rapidly in the technology related to information and
communication from last 20 years, and this key development increase the importance and
emergence of social media. These changes are quick in nature, such as development in the
mobile expertise played very significant part in determining the influence of social media. In all
over the world, mobile devices lead in context of total time spent on social media. It provides the
ways through which people can connect anywhere and with every person they want (SEP, 2015).
This essay mainly analyzes the case study available on CNBC from
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/21/its-time-to-crack-down-on-facebook-and-twitter-
commentary.html. This case study is analyzed by using the different theories of ethics such as
utilitarianism, deontology, virtue and contract. Lastly, paper is concluded with brief conclusion
which also includes the recommendations on this topic.
Social Media Platform:
A study published by New York Times Consumer Insight Group stated the motivations
which encourage the participants in sharing the information on social media. This mainly states
the desires of individual to share the valuable and entertaining content with the other users,
define themselves before others, produce and feed their relationships, and also provide support to
their causes and brands.

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These factors of social media help the users to be in touch with the friends and families,
and it also used in such ways which have direct influence on the society. Social media used in
such ways which directly impact the shape of politics, business, world culture, education,
careers, innovation, and more (Harris, Lang, Yates & Kruck, 2011; CNBC, 2017).
Impact of social media:
First period of the 21st Century, new media technologies related to social networking such
as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and YouTube initiated the transformation in the social, political
and informational practices of the individuals and social groups across the globe, and it also
attracts the debate from the community of ethicists and philosophers of technology (Rodgers &
Dietz, n.d.).
Utilitarianism Theory:
Utilitarianism is the idea which determines whether actions are morally right or wrong on
the basis of the effects and results of those actions has. This theory is considered as the most
moral and influential theories which is developed by the community of ethicists.
Platforms of the social media allow the users to post anything they want others to see,
and sometimes users also suffer because of their views and posts. Postings of particular users in
context of political views and devout beliefs always fall under the scrutiny and suffer threats or
reaction because of their posts. Generally, users also suffer cyber bullying and other things on
social media and it have a wide range of effects. The behavior of people on social media related
to unfavorable posts can cause huge disgrace. In context of utilitarianism theory, users must not
post any unfavorable or negative posts on the social media platforms and it should not be posted

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on the basis of situation itself. In other words, users must not make any negative comment even
though in offended situations.
Some people support this theory, and on the basis of this theory people never post any
such thing on social media which is considered negative and unfavorable. When users post
negative comments on the social media they lead other people feeling depressed and sometimes
even cause people to harm themselves.
Therefore, it can be said that if comments and posts of users on social media is of such
nature as it results in negative comment then on the basis of this theory posts on social media is
not morally right (Bratton & candy, 2013).
Deontology Theory:
Deontology theory is considered as set of ethical goals which are connected with some
rules and regulations. This theory states that for the purpose of making the action morally
correct, it is necessary that people do something right and perform their duty and secondly
intention of the person matters and not the action of the person. In other words, action of the
person might provide benefit to someone but such action can also result in harm if done with a
bad intention.
In case of social media, Facebook holds great importance because it is considered as only
platform which helps the common people in communicating with each other but it has also
transformed into a Business Oriented Social Network through its various applications such as
Glassdoor. This application is not only used by professionals to share their skills and experience
but it also helps the individuals in advertising their jobs and other opportunities.

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For the purpose of maintaining the compliance, there are some rules to enter into the
network of Facebook such as user must provide necessary information to platform and this
information includes name, age, sex, etc. this information is confidential in nature and would not
be displayed with the permission of the user. This is also considered an attempt through which
Facebook made an attempt to secure the visibility of such content which is age restricted to the
young users for the purpose of not polluting the growing minds. Therefore, it is the duty of every
person to post such things on social media platform which does not pollute the minds of people
and such content must be authentic n nature.
Virtue Ethics:
More than 50% parents in UK stated that social media platforms directly affect the moral
development of their children’s. The Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues based at the
University of Birmingham conducted the research on this topic, and on the basis of this research
almost 40% parents are stressed because of the negative impact of social media platforms such as
Facebook and Twitter on their children’s and other young generations. This research provides the
huge detail as it includes the daily habits of their children and increasing anxiety related to the
effect of online platforms in 2016.
It must be noted that negative effects related to social media are well published, but very
less people see the positive effects of the social media platforms and the results of this research
prove this thing. This research stated that platforms of social media are not that much bad.
Almost 72% of the users of the social media believe that they see at least one moral and good
post in a day on social media (Virtue Insight, 2016). .

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This theory states that while posting on the social media, user must consider that post
support the moral content and not any immoral content.
Contract theory:
This theory states the moral and political obligations of any person clearly depends on the
contract and agreement between the persons to form the society in which they live. However, it
must be noted that this theory is actually associated with the modern moral and political theory.
In context of social media, users generally posts content on the basis of their moral and
political obligations towards the person and also make comments on the basis of their obligations
(Ethics Unwrapped, n.d.).
These above sated theories clearly define the impact of social media on the society and
politics, and how these platforms influence the mind of young generation.
Conclusion:
After considering the above facts, it can be said that ethical theories are also connected
with the social media platforms and it mainly analyze the day to day behavior and its impacts on
the people. It is necessary for the users to analyze their posts on the basis of ethical theories
before posting any content on the social media platform.

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References:
Braton, D. & candy, V. (2013). Federal Government Ethics: Social Media. International Journal
of Management & Information Systems – Third Quarter, Volume 17(3).
CNBC, (2017). Social media platforms present dangerous issues for society. They need to be
regulated. Retrieved on 7th January 2018 from: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/21/its-time-to-
crack-down-on-facebook-and-twitter-commentary.htmL.
Ethics Unwrapped. Social Contract Theory. Retrieved on 7th January 2018 from:
http://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/glossary/social-contract-theory.
Harris, A. L., Lang, M., Yates, D., & Kruck, S. E. (2011). Incorporating ethics and social
responsibility in IS education. Journal of Information Systems Education, 22(3), 183-189.
Rodgers, E. & Dietz, C. Ethics of Social Media Behavior: Act versus Rule Utilitariani. Retrieved
on 7th January 2018 from: https://www.mckendree.edu/academics/scholars/rodgers-issue-24.pdf.
SEP, (2015). Social Networking and Ethics. Retrieved on 7th January 2018 from:
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-social-networking/.
Virtue Insight, (2016). The virtues and vices of social media sites. Retrieved on 7th January 2018
from: https://virtueinsight.wordpress.com/2016/07/14/the-virtues-and-vices-of-social-media-
sites/.