Purposive Communication 1: Social Media Issues with Ethical Considerations

Social Media Issues

1. Fake news
"Fake news" is fabricated information that copies news media content in form but not in
organizational process or intent. Fake-news outlets lack the news media's editorial norms and processes
for ensuring the accuracy and credibility of information (Lazer et al., 2018). Fake information can spread
around just as fast as real announcements can in the platform. According to Dice (2017), it is done by most
fake news and satire websites to make money from the web traffic their articles bring to the sites.
Imitative accounts of verified ones can also produce hoaxes that may confuse the users (e.g. imitating the
verified PAGASA account and posting false announcements on class suspensions).

2. Identity theft
Identity theft is committed when one pretends to be another person (without consent) and uses
this to their advantage in committing fraud and other crimes. An example of this is when an unidentified
person set-up a fake account to sell clothes using Filipina blogger, Kryz Uy’s name.

3. Catfishing
This occurs when a stranger lures another internet user by creating an appealing online persona.
Once they have convinced the victim of their fictional personality, they either ask to meet in an unpopular
area or ask for money (Schilling, n.d.).

4. Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying occurs when an individual or group harass or inflict fear onto their target through the
use of gadgets like cellphones and laptops.

5. Plagiarism
Using social media means that everything you post is seen by the entire global network. There is a
great chance that the ideas, photos, poems, lyrics, and information you share online will be taken credit
by another.

6. Digital footprints
These are the activities and behaviors of the user in the social platform. Examples of these would
be browser searches, chat histories, sent files, log on/off records. This does not include any data about
the identity of the user (such as passwords, bank accounts, etc.) but it does give away the type of person
the user is.

7. Clickbait/False advertising
This type of web advertisement is aimed at getting the visitors’ attention and encouraging them to
click on an attached link, which directs the user to a specific Web page. In recent years, the use of clickbait
has contributed to the rapid spread of rumors and misinformation online (Elyashar, Bendahan, & Puzis,
2017). Besides these, false advertising may also result from clickbaits. Some online sellers take advantage
of selling goods behind the screen. In order to attract buyers, these sellers won’t upload actual pictures
of the products they’re trying to sell, so when the items arrive at the doorstep of the customers, it isn’t
what it looked like in the screen.
Ethical Considerations
 1.Fake news
People who spread fake news violate the “Anti-fake News Act of 2017” wherein it states that any
person to maliciously offer, publish, distribute, circulate, and spread false news or information and cause
panic, division, chaos, violence or hate will be found guilty and will be punished by a fine ranging from
100,000 pesos to five million pesos and imprisonment ranging from one to five years.
2.Identity theft
Internet users who commit identity theft violate R.A. No. 10175 known as the "Cybercrime
Prevention Act of 2012″. This computer-related theft is defined as the “intentional acquisition, use,
misuse, transfer, possession, alteration or deletion of identifying information belonging to another”.
3.Catfishing
Catfishing also falls under identity theft, so catfishes, along with identity thieves, violate R.A. 10175.
Internet users can avoid being a prey of these offenders by accepting friend requests and follow requests
of people who they personally know.
4.Cyberbullying
The Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 (R.A. 10627) covers school-related bullying incidents, which also
covers social media platforms as found in Section 2 of the said Republic Act which states that “when done
through the use of the Internet, the law categorizes the same as ’cyber-bullying.’”
5.Plagiarism
The Philippines has a legal code wherein it criminalizes some forms of plagiarism. This special law is
known as the Intellectual Property Code. Such plagiarism carries a penalty of three to six years of
imprisonment and a fine of P50,000 - P150,000 ($1,200 - $3,600), if prosecuted under the law (Bailey,
2012).
6.Digital footprints
One way to analyze the digital footprint of the user is through foot printing and reality mining. This
is used professionally to collect data from the digital footprint and make out the identity of the individual.
But when used for personal use, it is unethical. There is no current law protecting the search patterns of
online users. As of now, only the awareness of the users could help them avoid getting their information
leaked (Vilnius University, 2012).
7.Clickbait/False advertising
Sellers who false advertise violate Republic Act No. 7394 also known as the “Consumer Act of the
Philippines”. This policy protects the interests of the consumer against deceptive, unfair and
unconscionable sales acts and practices.

References:
Bailey, J. (2012). Criminalizing Plagiarism in the Philippines. Retrieved from
https://www.ithenticate.com/plagiarism-detection-blog/bid/87800/Criminalizing-Plagiarism-in-the-Philippines#.W32LhpMzaEo)
Brown, J. (2018). BBC: Is social media bad for you? The evidence and the unknowns. Retrieved 22 August, 2018 from
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180104-is-social-media-bad-for-you-the-evidence-and-the-unknowns
Consumer act of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 7394). (n.d.). The consumer act of the Philippines. Retrieved from
http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?file_id=224742
Dice, M. (2017). The true story of fake news: how mainstream media manipulates millions. Retrieved from:
https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=usc8DwAAQBAJ&dq=fake+news&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Digital footprints in the context of professional ethics. (2012). Informatics In Education, 11(1), 65-79.
Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1064289.pdf
Elyashar, A., Bendahan, J., & Puzis, R. (2017). Detecting clickbait in online social media: you won’t believe
how we did it. The salmon clickbait detector at the clickbait challenge 2017. Retrieved from https://www.clickbait-
challenge.org/papers/elyashar17-notebook.pdf
Lazer, D., Baum, M., Benkler, Y., Berinsky, A., Greenhill, K., & Menczer, F. et al. (2018). The science of fake
news. Science, 359(6380), 1094-1096. Retrieved from http://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6380/1094.full
Republic act no. 10175. (2012). An act defining cybercrime, providing for the prevention, investigation, suppression, and the imposition of penalties
therefore and other purposes. Retrieved from http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2012/09/12/republic-act-no-10175/
Schilling, M. (n.d.). Love & harmony: 10 ways to catch out a catfish. Retrieved 22 August, 2018 from
https://www.eharmony.com.au/dating-advice/trust-and-safety/10-ways-to-catch-out-a-catfish#.W31V2yOB0yk
Villanueva, J. (2017). An act of penalizing the malicious distribution of false news and other related violations. Retrieved from
https://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2624822593!.pdf