Ethical use of social media means that users avoid dishonest or manipulative behavior.
Users should avoid posting content that may be harmful such as misinformation or propaganda.
Social media plays a huge role in our society, and it changes the way that everybody consumes
information
and news. It also massively affects the economy, being one of the main reasons modern
businesses can earn revenue,
and plays a huge role in politics, being used to promote politicians
and world leaders.
The ethical use of social media is a significant topic for discussion because ethics are what
guide us
to do the right thing, and they defend the rights of people online. Without ethics,
social media would be
a very different place, full of deceit and dangerous activity.
While social media platforms are supposed to safeguard user data, in some cases this may not
be true.
Some platforms like Meta/Facebook have a very secure system in place to prevent
accounts from being hacked
through multi-factor authentication and tracking cookies.
When users sign up for a social media account,
they have to agree to a set of terms and
conditions, which allows the company to take and keep their information.
Unfortunately, even with all the precautions that companies take, it is still relatively easy
for data
miners to use even an email or a phone number to find sensitive information like
leaked passwords, banking
information, and personal details about users lives.
Another issue with privacy on social media is trust. If someone they think they can trust gets
ahold of
their information, they may spread it and harm the owner of the information.
While social media can help people feel more connected to others, it can also have very negative
effects
on users health, especially in teenagers and young adults.
Many users rely on the satisfaction and rush of dopamine they get when people they know like and
reply
positively to their posts, and users views of themselves may be affected if they
dont receive that rush.
Social media also increases users fear of missing out when they see people they love having fun
or making
memories without them. Social media can also hugely impact health due to cyberbullying,
which can destroy users
self-esteem and give them anxiety.
Social media is one of the main ways society consumes information and news, so the spread of
false information
has lots of potential.
If a post containing false information goes viral, there is almost no way to stop it before
thousands of people
believe it. However, social media can also spread real information and
important news.
For example, almost every news station uses social media to expand their audience, and social
media is many
peoples primary source of important information and news.
Social media provides users opportunities to connect with loved ones across the globe.
This connection can positively
affect users mental health and relationships with others,
as they can communicate with others whenever they feel
the need to.
According to the American Public Universitys study, these connections help maintain
relationships and interests,
fostering a sense of belonging, self-esteem, and support in users.
However, there is a downside to this. Studies show that longtime users of social media
platforms like Instagram
showed decrease in satisfaction with relationships and a
higher chance of conflict between parties.
I dont use social media that much outside of watching videos on YouTube and messaging
friends privately.
However, if I ever do decide to make public comments, I should refrain from posting anything
harmful or insulting
toward others because I dont want any colleges I apply to finding out
about it and revoking my scholarship.
I should always give my posts a second thought before
I make them public, just in case.
Overall, ethical use of social media should be to just be kind and welcoming to others
on the internet.
Ethical use of social media is to never insult people that you dont
know and to never post misinformation,
because your digital footprint will always catch up to you.
images from pinterest and vecteezy