Media Ethics | Digital Ethics
Child Sensation or Exploitation?
Today nearly everyone is online. With easy, direct access to technology and social media platforms’ user-friendly interfaces, most Americans have become accustomed to sharing bits-and-pieces of their lives with others. Indeed, generations that once took family photos on bulky cameras are now able to snap pictures of their children… Read More
Can Artificial Intelligence improve Democracy?
Can AI chatbots help politicians communicate with their constituencies? Read More
QAnon and the Return of JFK Jr.
What are the ethics of covering conspiracy theories in the news? Read More
Bringing Dead Actors Back to Life
One of Hollywood’s most treasured actors may soon appear on the big screen again. James Dean –star of classic films like East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant– epitomized sexy youthful rebellion for many teens coming of age in the 1950s and beyond. While comeback roles are not… Read More
Tik-ing Off Users?
On September 12, 2023, TikTok launched its newest addition to the popular app: TikTok Shop. Originally, TikTok functioned as a video-sharing platform where users shared information, their thoughts and feelings on various topics, and of course, viral dances. However, with the implementation of the marketplace feature, creators now have the… Read More
The Ethics of Skinvertising
Getting a tattoo can be a symbolic personal decision, one that is not for everyone. It’s a decision to express something about their personality in a permanent and often publicly visible way. But what if your tattoo was meant to advertise for someone else instead of to display your own… Read More
The Ethics of Amazon Alexa
On November 14, 2014 tech giant Amazon announced the newest voice assistant to hit the market. The voice assistant, commonly known as “Alexa,” was a primary feature of a new wave of Amazon systems, known as the Echo. Alexa could answer virtually any question asked and perform many functions; from… Read More
My Murder, Your Entertainment
It’s no secret that true crime media, whether in podcast or film format, has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. True crime is popular for reasons other than entertainment, as this genre has led to solving cold cases, bringing ignored issues to light, and educating audiences on how to avoid… Read More
Love Yourself or Just Your Selfie?
While Instagram used to be a casual platform to share quick snapshots with friends, it has turned into a perfectly curated stream of highlight reels. Like many young people, 21-year-old Sky Lane heavily edits her photos before posting them to social media. Lane’s main goal is to appear skinnier, but… Read More
The Ethics of AI Art
For thousands of years, art has been an endeavor of the human race. From Rembrandt to Basquiat, from the Benin Bronzes to the new wave cinema of Hong Kong, art has been recognized as creative expressions of human intelligence. With the public release of DALL-E 2, a neural network that… Read More
With Great Fame Comes Great Responsibility?
TikTok Influencers have a lot of power. Should they use it in ethical ways? Read More
The Ethics of DNA Predictive Technology in Law Enf...
What are the ethical tradeoffs of surveillance software in online education? Read More
Imperfections or Revealing Mistakes on Twitter?
What ethical concerns arise when Twitter users can edit their tweets? Read More
Newsworthy Expression or Tragic Tea?
What happens when YouTube drama channels switch from influencer gossip to serious tragedies? Read More
Is Coordinated Political Activity on Social Media ...
Are coordinated political campaigns ethical? Read More
Socratic Discussion or Masked Bigotry?
How offensive can trolls be? A case study in online free speech. Read More
More than a Fashion Faux Pas?
Can inclusive advertising survive the heavy hand of Facebook's able-biased AI? Read More
Internet Activism or Cyberterrorism?
Is hacktivism an ethical form of protest or activism? Read More
A Straight Man in Damascus?
Can a blog author blur their identity to increase attention on an important issue? Read More
Ethical Challenges in the Fight against Gun Violen...
What are ethical concerns with police using technology to detect gunshots? Read More
Promoting Safety or Infringing on Privacy?
What are the ethical tradeoffs of surveillance software in online education? Read More
Aiding the Cause or Enabling Performative Activism...
What are the ethics of sharing social justice posts on Instagram? Read More
Democratizing the Best or Enabling the Worst?
Is Amazon's easy self-publishing good or bad for democracy? Read More
Should Our Past Follow Us Forever Online?
What are the ethics of unpublishing or removing news items? Read More
Getting the News Out with Apple News+
What ethical concerns arise when Apple distributes the news? Read More
Twitter’s Difficult Choice in India
How should Twitter deal with government demands to regulate speech in India? Read More
The Latest in Dirty Campaign Tricks?
Do cheapfakes raise new ethical problems in political communication? Read More