Applying Ethical Theories to 'Targeting a Broken Heart' Case Study

This essay critically analyzes the ethical implications of the article 'Targeting a Broken Heart' through the lens of four prominent ethical theories: utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and contract theory. The essay explores how social media platforms like Facebook utilize user data, particularly focusing on emotional states post-breakup, and evaluates the ethical considerations of such practices. Each ethical theory is applied to the case, examining the potential benefits and harms, duties and obligations, virtues and vices, and contractual agreements involved. The analysis reveals potential ethical breaches concerning user privacy, data security, and the exploitation of emotional vulnerabilities. The essay concludes by emphasizing the need for social media companies to prioritize user safety, data protection, and ethical conduct over profit maximization, advocating for greater transparency and accountability in data handling practices. Desklib offers a wealth of similar essays and study resources for students.

Running head: Targeting a broken heart
SCHOOL OF COMPUTING AND MATHS, CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY
Targeting a Broken Heart
Assignment 3: Applying Ethical Theory
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Word count : 1400

Targeting a Broken Heart
Table of Contents
Introduction...............................................................................................................1
Utilitarianism theory..................................................................................................1
Deontology theory.....................................................................................................2
Virtue theory..............................................................................................................2
Contract theory..........................................................................................................3
Conclusion.................................................................................................................3
References.................................................................................................................5
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Targeting a Broken Heart
Introduction
In this paper the discussion will be on the article “Targeting a broken heart”. In this it can
be stated that there are many organizations who emphasize on the researchers who have detail
insight on the overall issues. The focus will be given on “How breakup influences the overall
behavior of the person.
The case in this paper talks about targeting a broken heart by taking into consideration
the concepts of ethics. The theories that will be elaborated are Utilitarianism, deontology, virtue
and contract theory.
Utilitarianism theory
This theory is concerned with utilitarian and it can be said that there are various goods
perceived in context to this theory. By evaluating the entire case, it can be examined that
perceived goods should be considered. In the recent era, the utilitarian rule can assist to
contradict the entire process of collection and also there are techniques on which emphasis
should be given. The case elaborates that how individuals can maintain safety on Facebook or
can secure the data. This theory also states that moral happiness of the individual is necessary
and it emphasizes on the basic rules as it assist to consider the acts which are right (Child &
Starcher, 2016).
By considering the theory, it has been stated that individuals have to face the problems
that emphasizes on the overall living standards if the individuals and also it enhance happiness
and sadness of the people. Therefore, by emphasizing on the case, it can be said that now days
people start posting their pictures or status on their Facebook profile as this help to reduce the
heartbreaks that takes place due to breakups. The people share their pictures and also sometimes
share their views and opinions which are visible to other people. But it has been observed that
there are many situation in which Facebook has the feature in which the past post are shown
which are shared by the people. So, by seeing the old memories the feeling of sadness enhances
of the individual. Therefore, by seeing the post it can be simple to collect the data which can
create the feeling of sadness (Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, 2018).
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Targeting a Broken Heart
ICT ethical framework has connection with the post of the people in which it can be said
that the post should not be seen by other people. But on Facebook, the third person can give their
opinion and views on the post of the post of other individual. According to the case, it can be
easy for the first party to give the overall data to the third party. The overall outcome can be
related with breaching of the information. There are individuals who emphasizes on different
sources so that it can be simple to boost the happiness of the people. To bring change in the
mindset of the individual, it can be seen that shopping and watching movie can be one of the best
source. It is necessary for the company to focus on safety so that it can be simple to maintain the
perception level of the individual. It is necessary for the people to boost the privacy so that the
other party cannot misuse the data.
Deontology theory
By considering the theory, it can be analyzed that it assists to encourage the individual so
that the best actions can be taken into consideration. This theory is also related with the relations
that are necessary to be maintained so that the safety and privacy of the information of the people
can be maintained. In the starting phase, it can be stated that there can be various issues but on
the later stage the activities are operated easily which assist in attaining the positive results. It
can be analyzed that the decisions which are right can assist the company to attain the positive
outcome. If the overall action of the people gives advantage to the others then it can impact the
overall operations of the organization. It can also enhance the issues of the people who are
staying in the society (Bevan, Cummings, Kubiniec, Mogannam, Price & Todd, 2015).
The recent case, states that there are many individuals who feel good by considering
Facebook and with the help of this it can be simple to bring change in the mindset of the people
when they break up. So, by focusing on theory it has been said that it is not ethical and also it
breach the entire rules or the data of the people. It has been analyzed that the company is
providing the important information to the organizations and they use it for marketing and also
for achieving the advantages. This can be said that as the legal offense and also there are
organizations who offer pleasure to the individual so that they can feel positive. The people focus
on the issues that can occur due to different reasons. It can be said that the company has no right
to consider the emotions of the individuals for their own advantages (Vaughn, 2015). Therefore,
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Targeting a Broken Heart
this act can be said as the unethical act which can impact the lives of the individuals in the
society.
Therefore, Facebook tries to focus on maintaining the security of the individuals by
emphasizing on the entire policy procedures. It is important to focus on the activities so that the
individual belief can be managed.
Virtue theory
This theory focuses on the concept in which there are few individuals who consider the
philosophy of virtue. It is important to emphasize on the happiness of the people by considering
the activities and it can be stated that they are not ethical in the eye of law. It can be said that it
can be achieved if the emphasis is on the actions related to ethics. This theory also states that
there can be virtues which are necessary to be taken into consideration. The virtue can be related
with courage and honesty (Parker, 2017).
By considering the case, it can be stated that Facebook should focus on the necessary data
so that benefits can be achieved. This can be said that it is an unethical act and this theory
focuses on the overall act of the individual which is correct and it does not emphasize on the
overall work which is finished. The emotions of the individuals are misused and the theory does
not consider the act which is unethical but it focuses on the overall data of social media of the
particular individual (West, 2018).
Contract theory
There are various policies which are important to be considered by the people. It is
necessary for the individual to emphasize on the policies so that people can survive in the society
with various factors related to confidence and honesty. It is also important to consider the paper
work and also at the time of opening the Facebook account the rule is accepted because
Facebook does not permit to do so (Rachels, 2017).
So, it can be said that it is necessary to emphasize on the rules before accepting. Due to
this the impact can also be seen on the privacy of the individual. The acts which are considered
by the organization are not right according to law and it can be declared as wrong. It is necessary
for the individual to focus on the maintaining the information by using the social media sites. It
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Targeting a Broken Heart
is necessary to focus on maintaining the relation of the people so that security and privacy of the
individuals can be maintained. Therefore, it can be said that management of the organization
should emphasize on securing the safety so that the negative impact can be minimized. If privacy
of the people is maintained then customer satisfaction can also be boosted. It is necessary to
focus on maintaining the security of the customers so that people can live their life with
confidence.
Conclusion
So, it can be concluded that Facebook and social media should focus on securing the
information of the people and also they should not think of earning profits. The companies
should also maintain the safety so that the risk in relation to the data loss can be minimized. If
the data is not secured off the consumers then it can generate the dissatisfaction between the
customers.
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Targeting a Broken Heart
References
Bevan, J. L., Cummings, M. B., Kubiniec, A., Mogannam, M., Price, M., & Todd, R. (2015).
How are important life events disclosed on Facebook? Relationships with likelihood of
sharing and privacy. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(1), 8-12.
Child, J. T., & Starcher, S. C. (2016). Fuzzy Facebook privacy boundaries: Exploring mediated
lurking, vague-booking, and Facebook privacy management. Computers in Human
Behavior, 54, 483-490.
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/
Parker, R. B. (2017). A definition of privacy. In Privacy (pp. 83-104). Routledge.
Rachels, J. (2017). Why privacy is important. In Privacy (pp. 11-21). Routledge.
Vaughn, L. (2015). Doing ethics: Moral reasoning and contemporary issues. WW Norton &
Company.
West, A. (2018). After virtue and accounting ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 148(1), 21-36.
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