Towards an adaptive ethics on social networking sites (SNS): a critical reflection

Abstract

Purpose

The advancements of emerging technology to configure the way to convey information, knowledge sharing and even entertainment could make a valuable insight to the contemporary life trend. Because the increased new types of social network site (SNS) use would undoubtedly create the ethical issues referring to both positive and negative effects, it can lead to higher rates of the unintended consequences mentioned above and thus ethical issues surrounding SNS need to conceive an entire deal of attention. This paper aims to investigate the application of values and ethics on SNS.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature from refereed and peer-reviewed journals and articles was reviewed using thematic topic analysis to propose a model of ethics in SNS. In this paper, the profound conceptual discussions related to SNS use were examined in the way which these theories can be transformed into technical requirements and specifications. A review of the literature pointed to a need for ethical engagement with SNS.

Findings

The finding revealed that there are three points of adaptive ethics on SNS, which would entail enhancing awareness about the quality of information available. This followed with which ranged from credible to dubious, through increasing caution about information quality and reliability across the online social community.

Originality/value

In this paper, we have summarized the profound conceptual discussions related to SNS use both as users in engaging social relationship and brands’ promotion in dealing with customers’ transaction and examined the ways in which these theories can be transformed into technical requirements and specifications. Put simply, the author proposes a dynamic theory that encompasses credibility and conscientiousness, by way of confirmation, as the ultimate goal of SNS ethics as it pertains to information.

Citation

Huda, M. (2022), "Towards an adaptive ethics on social networking sites (SNS): a critical reflection", Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 273-290. https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-05-2021-0046