University IT Ethics Essay: Dating, Technology, and Ethical Frameworks

This essay delves into the ethical dimensions of technology's influence on dating, examining the application of utilitarianism, deontology, virtue theory, and contract theory. It presents a case study involving online dating and the ethical challenges that arise, such as privacy concerns and the potential for misuse of personal information. The essay highlights the contrast between traditional dating methods and modern online platforms, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations in the digital age. It also explores the vulnerabilities of online dating, including cyberattacks and the need for enhanced security measures to protect users' data. The author provides recommendations such as developing new policies, hiring correct person, proper input of control processes, cultural transparency, openness and communication buildup and development of proper leadership to mitigate ethical issues. The essay concludes by stressing the responsibility of individuals to safeguard their personal information and navigate the complexities of technology-driven dating ethically. The essay is a valuable resource for students and professionals interested in technology ethics.

Running head: Topics in Information Technology Ethics
Topics in Information Technology Ethics: Technology and dating
Name of the student:
Name of the university:

1TOPICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ETHICS
Introduction
This essay depicts the important of application of different classical ethical theories in the
selected case scenario based on technology and dating (Technology and dating, 2017). The four
theories applied in this case are Utilitarianism theory, Deontology theory, Virtue theory and
Contract theory. However, many negative aspects are determined after the application of these
theories. In order to mitigate the identified issues different technologies are also illustrated in this
essay.
Considering the Background of the scenario four different classical ethical
theories
Utilitarianism theory: In the modern times Utilitarianism theory is found to be as one of
the most crucial and influential moral as well as ethical theories. It has been determined that
happiness and pleasure are the only two things that provide intrinsic value to the society. The
name of this is abbreviated from the term utility (Lacey & Lamont, 2014). With the help of this
theory the users will be able to understand the right and wrong aspects it means they could be
able to differentiate between the ethical and unethical theories. In order to gain maximized well
being outcome the utilization of Utilitarianism theory is very much important. The five different
characters those are served by the Utilitarianism theory include consequentialism, welfarism,
individualism, aggregation and maximization.
After considering this particular theory it has been determined that, in previous days due
to lack of technologies people were unable to contact to each other regardless of their location
and time as well (Martin, 2016). This news is about a lady who has kept her personnel details

2TOPICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ETHICS
hidden. Or in other words the lady is unwilling to reveal her personnel details in front of
everyone. In previous days there were no chances to contact daily with the person whom she
wanted to keep connected with. Thus, for so least time she was unable to predict the character of
the person whom she considered as her boyfriend. She got a nice personality but still nature wise
she was not at all compatible to anyone and she by own was also confuse about why none of her
relationship was lasting longer than 2 months (West & Bowman, 2016). This link elaborates the
role of online dating websites in the current society and whether usage of such website is ethical
or unethical. After considering this Utilitarianism theory it can be said that usage of online dating
websites is not at all ethical by nature.
Deontology theory: Deontology theory is a referred to as the obligation that is an
approach towards the ethics that focused on right and wrong of different actions. With the
comparison between consequential and teleological theories the discrimination between the
ethical and unethical approaches can be determined. There is a huge difference between the
moral absolutism And the Deontology theory (Al Ariss, Cascio & Paauwe, 2014). The
Deontology theory is consists of the drive command theory, contemporary deontology etc. If the
term Deontology is dividing in small segments then, two terms will come out the deon (means
duty) and science. The contemporary Deontology theory is one of the most vital normative
theories.
Considering the activities associated to Deontology theory it has been determined that,
old fashion dating is completely different from the current online dating approach. Nowadays the
relationships keep on changes as per the changing status of the consumers of the Facebook (Zhou
& Piramuthu, 2013). Even the websites are also providing the mobile application opportunities to
the consumers. With the help of this online dating the users will be able to keep themselves

3TOPICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ETHICS
connected to new people. However, from the societal perspectives it can be said that, doing
online date or blind date is not at all ethical.
Virtue theory: Virtue theory helps to define the moral personality of a person.
According to the moral theory moral and the relativism claims that there are no necessary
universal moral values related to this and this theory is not rationally sustainable as a theory of
ethics. With the help of the virtue theory the users will be able to identify that particular person
who is following the ethical aspects in this nominated case (Van Wee & Roeser, 2013). It has
been identified that, the description and cultural relativism is a factual claims that are completely
disagreement about the cultural morality and different other moralities. Intrinsically none of
these aspects can be judged.
From the nominated case it is determined that, the lady is young and she loves to make
friends with the help of current technologies. As previously there was no presence of mobile
phones thus the lady had to talk to her boy friend with the help of the land phones which was
quite strange. Online dating websites provides different new ways to meet new people. Cyber
attack is currently defined as one of the most vital issues that are strictly affecting the
information flow (Lacey & Lamont, 2014). If the information gets hijacked by the external
attackers then the confidential information might be misused by them. With the accelerated rate
of technology application people are becoming completely dependent on the technologies. In
order to mitigate the rate of unwanted actions it is necessary to consider the nature of a person.
Contract theory: The contract theory is referred to as an ethical theory that specifies a
particular name or action of a person who is eventually playing ethical role in the technology and
dating topic. The specified objectives those are related to the morality include happiness, right,

4TOPICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ETHICS
wrong and fairness as well (West & Bowman, 2016). The social contract theory defines every
general social principle of justice.
Considering this theory it has been determined that the concept of the social contract
theory helps to determined and differentiate between the right aspect and the wrong aspect. In
this case none of the activities of any of the person are seemed to be correct. If any person
registers him or herself to a system then it is very much necessary for the person to deliver every
personnel details to the online website. If proper securities are not delivered then any of the
external users would be able to come and access information from the server (Technology and
dating, 2017). In order to mitigate these issues it is very much important to install proper tracker
and the users should consider the security aspects and based on that the reasonably right and
wrong thing can be easily determined. In this case both the girl who is dating other and the
person whom she is dating are the affected person.
Conclusion
Technology based new dating trend or blind dating are the current state of dating
nowadays. The person who loves to meet new people must follow other ways to determine the
difference between what is right and what is wrong. Though with the help of technology the life
style of the person are changing frequently but still many issues are also rising due to wrong
modeling concept. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the lady to keep herself secured from the
external attackers. If they are safe from external attacks then, their personnel details will also be
secured from the attackers. In order to reduce the rate of unethical offence it is necessary to
follow certain recommendations. The recommendations are elaborated below:

5TOPICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ETHICS
Recommendations
In order to mitigate the dating and technology oriented issues the different things those
are required to be considered include:
1. Development of new polices and ethical practices
2. Hiring correct person
3. Proper input of control processes
4. Cultural transparency, openness and communication buildup
5. Development of proper leadership

6TOPICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ETHICS
References
Al Ariss, A., Cascio, W. F., & Paauwe, J. (2014). Talent management: Current theories and
future research directions. Journal of World Business, 49(2), 173-179.
Harrison, J. S., Freeman, R. E., & de Abreu, M. C. S. (2015). Stakeholder theory as an ethical
approach to effective management: Applying the theory to multiple contexts. Revista
Brasileira de Gestão de Negócios, 17(55), 858.
Lacey, J., & Lamont, J. (2014). Using social contract to inform social licence to operate: an
application in the Australian coal seam gas industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 84,
831-839.
Martin, K. (2016). Understanding privacy online: Development of a social contract approach to
privacy. Journal of Business Ethics, 137(3), 551-569.
Rossi, E., & Sleat, M. (2014). Realism in normative political theory. Philosophy Compass, 9(10),
689-701.
Technology and dating, B. (2017). Technology and dating. [online] The Sydney Morning Herald.
Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/technology-and-dating-20090520-
besc.html [Accessed 14 Sep. 2017].
Van Wee, B., & Roeser, S. (2013). Ethical theories and the cost–benefit analysis-based ex ante
evaluation of transport policies and plans. Transport reviews, 33(6), 743-760.
West, J. P., & Bowman, J. S. (2016). Electronic surveillance at work: An ethical
analysis. Administration & Society, 48(5), 628-651.

7TOPICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ETHICS
Zhou, W., & Piramuthu, S. (2013). Technology regulation policy for business ethics: An
example of RFID in supply chain management. Journal of business ethics, 116(2), 327-
340.