ETHICAL ISSUES OF SOCIAL NETWORKING

SOCIAL NETWORKING

A SOCIAL NETWORKING SERVICE IS A PLATFORM TO BUILD SOCIAL NETWORKS OR SOCIAL RELATIONS AMONG PEOPLE WHO SHARE INTERESTS, ACTIVITIES, BACKGROUND OR REAL- LIFE CONNECTIONS.

WHAT IS ETHICS ?ETHICS REFERS TO WELL- FOUNDED STANDARDS OF RIGHT AND WRONG THAT PRESCRIBE WHAT HUMANS OUGHT TO DO, USUALLY IN TERMS OF RIGHTS, OBLIGATIONS, BENEFITS TO SOCIETY, FAIRNESS, OR SPECIFIC VIRTUES.

VARIOUS ISSUES ARE :-•PERSONAL PRIVACY•IDENTITY THEFT•CYBER BULLYING•CYBER STALKING•ONLINE SEXUAL HARRASSMENT•VIOLENCE AND PORNOGRAPHY IN MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE ROLE PLAYING GAMES

PERSONAL PRIVACY AND IDENTITY

THEFT•PRIVACY CONCERNS WITH SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES HAVE RAISED CONCERNS AMONGST USERS ON THE DANGERS OF GIVING OUT TOO MUCH PERSONAL INFORMATION.•IDENTITY THEFT IS A FORM OF STEALING SOMEONE’S IDENTITY IN WHICH SOMEONE PRETENDS TO BE SOMEONE ELSE BY ASSUMING THAT PERSON’S IDENTITY, TYPICALLY IN ORDER TO ACCESS RESOURCES OR MISUSE IT TO PUBLICALLY DISGRACE THE PERSON.

DEFAMATION AND OTHER TORT

LIABILITY ISSUES1. CYBER BULLYING :- ONLINE

BEHAVIOUR THAT IS DEFAMATORY, CONSTITUTES BULLYING i.e. IT CONTAINS OFFENSIVE, VULGAR OR DEROGATORY COMMENTS.

IT IS USED TO SPREAD RUMORS, MALICIOUS GOSSIP USING ONLINE PHOTOS ABUSIVELY.

2. CYBER STALKING :- IT IS AN ACT OF PURSUING PREY IN A STEALTH LIKE WAY.

3.ANOTHER CYBER THREAT IS UNWANTED OR ILLEGAL ONLINE SEXUAL SOLICITATION OR SEXUALLY HARRASSING BEHAVIOUR. BUT IT IS MORE COMMON IN OPEN CHAT ROOMS.

4. ONLINE HARRASSMENTS :- A YOUTH SURVEY FROM THE U.S. REPORTS THAT 72% OF TEENAGERS HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY ONLINE HARRASSMENT.

CONCLUSIONSOCIAL NETWORKING CAN BE A GREAT MARKETING TOOL BUT CAN ALSO BE A LEGAL LANDMINE FOR THE UNWARY. USING SOCIAL NETWORKING TO ESTABLISH MAINTAIN PERSONAL AND BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS CAN BE VERY PRODUCTIVE BUT MUST ALWAYS TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THR MYRIAD OF EVER LINKING LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS. SO IT IS US WHO CAN PROTECT OURSELVES FROM SUCH CRIMES BY TAKING CARE OF ALL THE WAYS THESE ISSUES CAN HARM US.

BY

KIRTI MITTAL 2295