The Ethics of Social Networking

Is there such a thing as ethics of Social Networking, and if not, should there be? I recently started to ponder this question as a result of a personal experience on a Social Network site. A family member posted sensitive information about another member's state of health while the immediate family bore no knowledge of it. While one can debate the "correctness" of this action it compelled me to return to the notion that we simply do not pay enough attention to educating users about the dangers of the internet and in this particular instance, Social Networking. Whenever we post information about ourselves on line it is rarely information just about ourselves. We often divulge information, wittingly or unwittingly, about people connected to us. While it's benefits are celebrated, far too little is said about the pitfalls as we rush to embrace new technologies at the behest of being cutting edge and innovative.

The "privacy" aspect of these sites has always come under scrutiny for various reasons. We seldom read the user agreement when we sign up for these sites. I am just too busy to do so. We have heard about cyberstalkers and cyberbullying especially on sites like Facebook and MySpace as well as YouTube. I suppose it is to be expected when we consider the www as an integral part of daily living. We can't escape from it in the physical world and therefore it would seem unlikely in the virtual world. Is there then an equivalent to "streetsmarts" in the virtual world and what does it look like or does it something that can only be developed by spending copious amounts of time in cyberspace.

What are our responsibility in ensuring and respecting not just our own privacy but that of others? Has mobile media had the effect of simply ignoring the private spaces and times of the individual? In an earlier post I have lamented the fact that we are bombarded by media on a regular basis. Has the increase in mobile media and its capacity to have one always be connected and therefore always accessible developed a sense of entitlement from its users. What is the price of always being connected and accessible? I am getting more invitations than ever before to connect with people on social networking sites that I have never physically met or know anything about. What criteria should one use to connect with people whether for social, business or professional networking.

For me the most worrisome aspect of this debate is raised by Santa Clara University when they state that,

Many of the interpersonal virtues we value evolved in the context of face-to-face communication. Honesty, openness, and patience, for example, are honed in the negotiations we must manage when we meet people in person. What impact will digital media have on these virtues? What, for example, would honesty mean in the context of a world where people are represented by avatars? Will other virtues emerge as more important in social networking, where we can be constantly connected to a large reservoir of others and can shut off communications easily when we are bored or encounter difficulties?

From an education perspective these factors are important in understanding the potential impact of technology in our teaching. What are realistic expectations? What aspects of our face to face engagements can possibly be replaced by social media sites and which should be retained for optimal teaching and learning experience.