Social media, information ethics

1. Social Media Ethics
John Blake

2. Social media has fundamentally
changed the way that people interact
and communicate. While it enables
connection and information sharing, it
also raises concerns around privacy,
misinformation, and mental health. Key
ethical debates focus on the
responsibilities of social media
companies in balancing free speech
with harmful content moderation.

3. Filter Bubbles
Echo chambers
Users see only content aligned with
their views, reinforcing beliefs
Biased algorithms
Platforms amplify content aligned
with user views for engagement
Limited perspectives
Exposure to diverse views on issues is
reduced
Filter bubbles limit users' exposure to diverse perspectives and
reinforce existing beliefs and biases.

4. Disinformation
Definition
The deliberate spreading of
false information, especially
by a government to deceive
the public.
Motivations
Disinformation is often
spread for political,
financial or social gain.
Tactics
Using social media bots,
fake accounts, doctored
images to spread false
narratives quickly.
Impacts
Erodes trust in institutions,
promotes extremism,
undermines democracy.
Solutions
Media literacy education,
fact checking,
accountability for
platforms spreading
disinformation.
Individual Action
Verify information before
sharing, call out
disinformation, report fake
accounts.

5. Confirmation Bias
Percent of people who interpret data to fit beliefs
Percent who challenge own beliefs with
new info
Chance true belief
changes with new info
Percent who share info confirming beliefs

6. Hate Speech
Racist trolls
harassing
someone
Image of a person
of color being
harassed with
racist comments
online
Transphobic
comments
Screenshot of
transphobic
comments
attacking
someone's gender
identity
Antisemitic
conspiracy
theory
Image of an
antisemitic
conspiracy meme
targeting Jewish
people
Homophobic
slurs
Comments section
filled with
homophobic slurs
attacking
someone's
sexuality
Xenophobic
statements
Social media post
with xenophobic
statements against
immigrants
Sexist remarks
Forum thread with
people making
sexist remarks
about women

7. Cancel Culture
• Definition
Cancel culture refers to the practice of
withdrawing support for public figures and
companies after they have done or said
something considered objectionable or
offensive. Social media amplifies calls to
'cancel' people or brands.
• Origins
The phrase 'cancel culture' emerged on
social media in the mid-2010s. It became
more widely used around 2017 during the
#MeToo movement, which led to many calls
to 'cancel' influential men accused of sexual
assault.
• Arguments Against Cancel
Culture
Critics argue cancel culture stifles debate,
disproportionately punishes minor offenses,
and fails to allow for growth and redemption.
• Arguments In Favor
Proponents argue cancel culture holds
powerful institutions and people accountable
for harmful behavior and forces necessary
social change.

8. Mental Health
Depression
Studies show teens who
spend more than 3 hours per
day on social media are
more likely to develop
depression.
Anxiety
Social media overuse has
been linked to increased
social anxiety and feelings of
isolation in teens.
Body Image Issues
Seeing idealized images on
social media is associated
with poor body image and
disordered eating in teens.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying on social
media platforms can lead
to serious mental health
issues like depression and
anxiety in teens.
Sleep Deprivation
Using social media before
bed can disrupt sleep
patterns and cause sleep
deprivation in teens.
Fear of Missing Out
(FOMO)
Teens who constantly check
social media often
experience FOMO which can
impact mental wellbeing.

9. Addiction
Adults who report social media negatively impacts their sleep
Teens who report feeling 'addicted' to social media
Teens who check social
media over 100 times/day
Adults who check social media
over 50 times/day

10. Privacy
Data collection
Platforms gather user info like
location, friends, interests,
purchases, etc.
Data usage
Collected data enables ad targeting
and algorithmic curation of content.
Data security
Large troves of personal data raise
concerns about hacking, selling data,
or misuse.
While data helps platforms provide a personalized experience,
responsible data practices are needed to protect user privacy.

11. Self-Censorship
Fear of Backlash
Some avoid expressing
opinions that may receive
negative responses or
backlash from others.
Limits Free Expression
The fear of backlash causes
some to self-censor, which can
limit the free expression of
ideas.
Impacts Minority Voices
Self-censorship
disproportionately impacts
minority voices and opinions
that go against the
mainstream.
Creates Filter Bubbles
Self-censorship contributes to
filter bubbles, where people
are only exposed to ideas they
already agree with.
Hard to Measure
Self-censorship is difficult to
measure, so its full impact on
free expression is unknown.
Platform Design Issues
Some platform design choices
like public commenting may
unintentionally contribute to
self-censorship.