#Code of Practice on Disinformation

[dr-iphone]

Google拒絕遵守歐盟新法規，搜尋引擎與 YouTube 將不會導入事實查核機制

外媒 Axios 近日取得一封信件副本資料，Google 已經告知歐盟，歐盟新的事實查核法規不適合 Google 服務，因此就算《虛假信息自律守則》這項新法規實施在即，Google 仍不會在搜尋結果或 YouTube 影片中加入事實查核技術，也不會在搜尋內容排名和移除機制導入事實查核技術。 Continue reading Google拒絕遵守歐盟新法規，搜尋引擎與 YouTube 將不會導入事實查核機制

[sophieinwonderland]

To the person sending Russian propaganda to my inbox:

I don't have the time or energy to debunk every single claim you made. And I think it would be harmful to help you spread disinformation without being able to research and verify all of it.

Regarding the whataboutisms though, you are absolutely right that the American government has done horrible things. You are also right that our schools will sugarcoat our history and gloss over aspects of it that reflect poorly on the country.

I will be the first to criticize our nation for its failings. For the wars in the Middle East. For past experimentations conducted on our citizens. For the racism and homophobia and transphobia that permeates our society and history. For the genocide committed against Native Americans. For so, so much!

I will stand here and proudly use my voice to condemn our government for its sins.

I would ask if you will do the same to Russia. No... I will ask if you can do the same.

In your ask, you say this...

You know what **I** hate about "leftists"? They follow American's propaganda and think everything Russia and China claims are lies.

But the fact is that there is a very simple reason for this...

Everything out of China and Russia is filtered through their governments. Going against their narrative is illegal. And the narrative is whatever is going to benefit them at the moment.

If the truth is beneficial, they will tell the truth. If a lie is beneficial, they'll tell a lie. And then they will declare the lie true, and make it illegal to fact check the lie.

Does the US government lie? Absolutely!

But we also have an independent media that, historically, has been able to call them out on their lies. This means there is at least some incentive for honesty. And we have the Freedom of Information Act that has allowed the media access to a lot of information that other governments would rather keep secret.

Mind you, the government isn't always honest. There will be cover-ups and we need to be vigilant against those. But generally speaking, the existence of a free media ensures that lying is usually counterproductive.

On the other hand, nothing Russia says can ever be trusted because without a media to hold their feet to the fire, they have no incentive to be honest about anything. It's not that everything they claim is a lie so much as everything they say will only be said to benefit them, and there is no incentive to be honest EVER when you ban the fact checkers and suppress everything else.

Do not forget that you have a state that not only calls lies truths, but arrests those who dare speak real truths.

Say what you will about America, but I can call out our government for the time being.

I can cite reliable sources that go against the government's narrative.

And I don't have to live in fear that challenging the government's narrative will get me locked up in prison like Dmitry Ivanov.

Even the outlet that I linked to above, Mediazona, has been blocked in Russia now.

Let me ask you this: If a truth inconvenienced the Russian government, do you trust that they would tell it to you anyway? If a lie was beneficial, would you trust that they wouldn't lie and suppress those who told the truth?

I am not a Russian citizen. So my knowledge of life in Russia is limited, as is my knowledge of life in Ukraine. So I will end this with the words of Dmitry Ivanov, a brave Russian citizen who is still serving an unjust sentence in a Russian prison for daring to speak truths that the Russian government would rather keep quiet.

Ivanov. I object to Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code itself because, while ostensibly prohibiting the dissemination of knowingly false information, the way this article has been applied in practice effectively bans the sharing of any information that does not come from official sources. Official sources, meanwhile, unfortunately do not communicate any information to us. Which I mentioned, because now the only sources of information I can use are official ones. It’s our television. I see the response that this approach to information evokes in our society. Total distrust of official sources, anxious anticipation and the spread of even the most unrealistic rumours among those who watch these news reports and try to read something between the lines. If reducing the spread of fake news were truly the legislator’s goal, it could be achieved simply by telling people the truth. However, this is a challenging path, as it would require admitting one’s own mistakes, explaining the causes of failures, and facing tough questions and criticism. Had Vladimir Putin chosen this approach a quarter of a century ago, there would be far fewer difficult questions to answer now...

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Los Angeles firestorms, literal and political.

January 13, 2025

Robert B. Hubbell

Watching a natural disaster unfold is a sobering and perspective-altering experience—all the more so as our president-elect, the GOP, and much of the media see the disaster as an opportunity to “own the libs” in California. In today’s newsletter, I reflect on several aspects of the firestorms in California that affect the national economy and political dynamic. I hope this is helpful in encouraging a productive dialog about how to respond to the firestorms in Los Angeles.

The political firestorm.

The firestorms that leveled three areas in Los Angeles will have national reverberations and, therefore, demand a national response. The failure of the incoming administration and members of Congress to comprehend that fact will compound the injury to the US economy. The effort of Trump and his loyalists to spread disinformation while dancing on the graves of victims and communities is reprehensible and counterproductive to the national interests.

It is difficult to comprehend the combined vastness of Los Angeles and California—and their importance to the US economy.

California is the world’s fifth largest economy as measured by nominal GDP ($3.9 trillion), trailing only Japan, Germany, China, and the US.

California contributes nearly 15% of the US GDP.

Los Angeles County, in turn, accounts for more than 25% of California’s economy, meaning that LA County contributes nearly 4% of the US GDP.

The economy of LA County ($790 billion) is greater than the GDP of 39 of the states in the US. For a sense of scale, the economy of LA County is greater than the combined economies of Alaska, Maine, Vermont, Delaware, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming ($710 billion).

I note these statistics not to boast (as a proud Angeleno), but to highlight the fact that it would be madness for the federal government to refuse federal aid to help Los Angeles recover quickly. LA has lost more than 20,000 homes and businesses. Its infrastructure has suffered significant damage; over 200,000 residents are without power due to the destruction of high transmission power lines. Water quality in reservoirs has been degraded from smoke particulates, meaning that hundreds of thousands of residents whose homes survived the fires will not have potable water service. Hundreds of thousands more remained locked out of their homes due to evacuation orders.

When other parts of the nation experience natural disasters, aid is quickly delivered. Criticisms of aid tend to focus on the slowness of FEMA’s response. In the case of LA’s natural disaster, a Republican member of Congress from Ohio—Warren Davidson—has called for delaying aid to California until the state “improves its forestry practices.” See HuffPo, House Republican Threatens To Withhold Disaster Aid From California Amid Deadly Wildfires.

The notion that California has deficient forestry practices emerges from a 2020 statement by Trump that California was failing to “rake and clean” its forest floors like Finland. See Politico, (8/21/2020), Trump blames California for wildfires, tells state 'you gotta clean your floors'.

More about the “forestry practices” lie in a moment. The point is that no Democrats called for delaying aid after hurricanes until affected states revised their building codes regarding construction in coastal zones subject to repeated flooding during hurricanes.

To add insult to injury, California is ranked 49th in terms of “dependency on federal funds”—meaning its receives less “return” on its contribution to federal revenues than every other state (only New Jersey ranks lower). See Most & Least Federally Dependent States in 2025.

Rep. Davidson of Ohio should reflect for a moment on where federal revenue comes from. California contributes six times more in federal revenue than does Ohio. For every $5.00 California contributes to federal revenue, it receives $1.00 in federal funding.

Here’s my point: California is not a charity case. It pulls its weight in a nation where states have united for the common good. So please, MAGA, spare us the moralizing. I doubt appeals to your sense of fairness will be unavailing, so consider this: If the federal government refuses to assist LA County with a quick recovery, there could be a measurable, negative impact on GDP—and, possibly, inflation. How would that look for Trump?

The disinformation firestorm

The flames were still rolling through the Santa Monica Mountains when Trump began his disinformation campaign. Sadly, disinformation and conspiracy theories have become staples of the MAGA response to mass casualty events. After mass shootings, MAGA rushes to fill social media with false claims that the shooter was a Democrat, Muslim, transgender, gay, or an undocumented immigrant. After the floods and winds following recent hurricanes that caused devastating flooding in North Carolina, MAGA went into overdrive to interfere with FEMA’s efforts to provide emergency cash to victims.

The speed with which MAGA “floods the zone” with disinformation is becoming a significant impediment to disaster response by state and federal agencies. Disinformation not only sows confusion, it corrodes trust between victims and rescuers. It causes victims to delay in seeking assistance or claiming benefits that will speed recovery.

The fact that MAGA politicians are already talking about “delaying” aid until California revises its “forestry practices” is a case in point. I doubt that Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio would recognized a forestry practice if it hit in the ****. His statements betray ignorance about the state of California, forestry, and “practices” in general.

The state of California has 33 million acres of forests. California Forest Statistics. The federal government owns 57% of forest land, private industry owns 40%, leaving only 3% of forest lands under the control of state and local agencies. Thus, to the extent that “forest practices” are an issue in California wildfires, those practices are controlled by the federal government and private industry.

Still, both the federal and state governments use prescribed fire to control risk of wildfire in California. See Cal Fire, Prescribed Fire, a statewide program designed to reduce fuels and reduce the risk of wildfire. The Cal Fire program permits private owners to use prescribed burns to manage forests under their control in California. See CAL FIRE Prescribed Fire Guidebook.pdf.

Ohio also permits prescribed fires, but the documentation on its website is not as robust as that provided by Cal Fire, above. Perhaps Rep. Davidson of Ohio should suggest to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources that it review California’s “forestry practices” manual to see whether there is anything Ohio can learn from its fellow state.

Moreover, the areas that were ravaged by the wildfire are under the jurisdiction of fire officials at the county and city level, not the “State of California.”

Trump and the MAGA media claim that the wildfires were more destructive because the City of Los Angeles allegedly decreased the fire department’s budget. That claim evinces a shocking level of ignorance about how wildfires propagate in California. On the night that the largest fires occurred, winds gusts hovered between 50 and 80 mph and humidity dipped to 8%!

With hurricane-force wind gusts, single-digit humidity, and dry brush due to an anemic 0.08 inches of rain over the prior six months, Pacific Palisades and other areas in LA were a tinderbox. The City of Los Angeles could have doubled its $800 million budget for the LA Fire Department and the outcome would not have changed.

Pacific Palisades was like a blast furnace. Hundreds of houses were on fire simultaneously. Many were reduced to fine ash in 30 minutes. As firefighters were in one location, the winds were spreading embers miles away, starting new house fires. By the time firefighters arrived at the new location, the fire had once again leap-frogged two miles away. The fire was unstoppable.

The lie that Los Angeles “ran out of water” has taken hold. Los Angeles did not run out of water. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power explains the facts on its website. The Pacific Palisades are in the Santa Monica Mountains. To create water pressure for hydrants (and homes) located at higher elevations in the Palisades, LADWP maintains 3 one-million gallon tanks.

Over 15 hours, firefighters drew down those tanks faster than they could be re-filled due to the unprecedented demand. Only 20% of hydrants (at the highest elevations) were affected and pressurized water remained in the trunk lines continuously. See LADWP, Pacific Palisades Fire: Correcting Misinformation About LADWP’s Water System.

When some of the hydrants lost pressure at the higher elevations, LADWP ferried in water in 19 water trucks with 4,000-gallon capacities—a standard fire-fighting technique used across the United States when hydrants are unavailable.

But the “LA ran out of water” falsehood is beside the point. Houses burned to the ground in areas with fully pressurized hydrants. The issue wasn’t the hydrants; it was hurricane force wind, the single-digit humidity, and the lack of rain over the preceding six months which made saving homes nearly impossible.

The fact that one of the LADWP’s reservoirs was drained due to failure to meet California drinking water standards is also irrelevant. The main trunk lines remained pressurized because LADWP has 114 reservoirs and tanks that maintain pressure in the main lines. Having one reservoir offline did not affect the pressure. See, again, LADWP, Pacific Palisades Fire: Correcting Misinformation About LADWP’s Water System.

Concluding Thoughts

Well, this isn’t the newsletter I had intended to write when I picked up my laptop several hours ago. But as a native Angeleno, I feel personally offended by politicians and media who know nothing about wildfires but who nonetheless attack Los Angeles during an ongoing natural disaster. No other state or city in the US has been subjected to such criticism and disinformation directed at the victims and their elected representatives during a natural disaster. (Hurricane Katrina strikes me as a justified exception.)

As I hope I have demonstrated, California and LA County are vital parts of the national economic engine. Threatening to hobble the LA region by withholding relief funds that are disproportionately contributed to the federal government by California and LA makes the moralizing and finger-wagging by clueless politicians and media personalities unbearable.

Thanks for listening to my rant. I will be back to my regular programming tomorrow evening, depending on how things go in the next 24 hours. But we cannot forget the tens of thousands of Angelenos who have lost their homes and loved ones.

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

[darkmaga-returns]

It’s as good a time as any to effectively pull out of the EU’s “voluntary anti-disinformation” deal, which social media companies were previously strong-armed into accepting. And Google has now done just that.

The “strengthened” Code of Practice on Disinformation was introduced during the heyday of online censorship and government pressure on social platforms on both sides of the Atlantic – in June 2022, and at one point included 44 signatories.

One of those who in the meanwhile dropped out is X, and this happened shortly after Twitter was acquired by Elon Musk.

Now, as the “voluntary” code is formally becoming part of EU’s censorship law, the Digital Services Act (DSA), Google took the opportunity to notify Brussels it will not comply with the law’s requirement to include fact-checkers’ opinions in the search results, or rely on those to delete or algorithmically rank YouTube content.

[heshmylover]

· · ──────────── ꒰ঌ·Viktoria V. Balshov·໒꒱ ──────────── · ·

✦ Viktoria "Vika" Balshov

✦ Name: Viktoria “Vika” Balshov ✦ Codename / Callsign: Vika ✦ Age (in 1981): 37 ✦ D.O.B: january 14, 1944 ✦ Place of Birth: Leningrad, USSR ✦ Nationality: Soviet Union (Russian) ✦ Pronouns: She/Her ✦ Affiliation: Perseus, KGB ✦ Role / Rank: Deep-Cover Intelligence Operative, Specialist in Espionage & Counterintelligence ✦ Fandom / Verse: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War ✦ Alignment: Neutral (leans lawful neutral) — loyal to her homeland, though quietly fractured by the lies she must maintain

⟡ Personality:

Viktoria is a captivating presence—sharp, sensual, and strategic. Her passion is veiled beneath layers of control, and she walks into a room with the confidence of someone who knows she’s being watched and knows how to use it. Highly intuitive and emotionally intelligent, Vika reads people like dossiers and knows how to shift her persona to fit the assignment. Vain and image-aware, she’s deeply concerned with how she’s perceived—almost obsessively so—and uses beauty as both a weapon and a shield. She's witty, composed, and adaptable, but harbors a bitterness shaped by the double life she leads. Despite her patriotism, there's a lingering ache in her—something human and unspoken that makes her hesitate, especially when her missions blur the lines between necessary and cruel. Her flaws are subtle but sharp: pride, emotional compartmentalization, trust issues, and a manipulative edge she sometimes regrets but can't seem to let go of. ⟡ Appearance: Viktoria stands at 5'9" with a lean, athletic build and a naturally poised posture that reflects her strict discipline. Her red hair is typically worn tied back or braided for practicality, complementing her pale, cool-toned complexion. She has pale blue-gray eyes that remain unreadable, set beneath high cheekbones and a sharp, angular jawline. A faint scar above her right brow and a small burn mark on her left wrist hint at her history, though she never speaks of them. Her features are severe but symmetrical—structured rather than soft. Vika dresses in muted, utilitarian clothing, favoring form. Face claim: Sophie turner

⟡ Background:

Viktoria Balshov was born in the final year of the Second World War — October 12, 1944, in Leningrad, a city still reeling from the devastating Siege that had lasted over two years. Her birth came into a household marked by loss and silence. Her mother, Anna, had survived the famine and bombings with a fierce will, but her father — a Red Army officer — was declared missing in action during the brutal Battle of Kursk, and never returned. Vika would grow up with only fragmented stories of him, recounted like war folklore whispered between sips of tea.

The post-war years in Leningrad were harsh, gray, and tight with rationing. Vika was raised in a small communal flat shared with two other families, a common Soviet reality. Her mother worked long hours as a textile worker, while Viktoria learned early to keep quiet, to listen, and to observe — habits that would one day become essential to her trade. The weight of silence and discipline was instilled early, as was the ability to charm when needed: survival sometimes required it.

As a student, she excelled in literature, languages, and political history, catching the eye of instructors with her fluency in English — skills rare and highly valuable. While most girls were directed toward clerical or domestic paths, Viktoria’s academic aptitude granted her entrance into a state-sponsored language and intelligence preparatory program in Moscow at the age of sixteen. Officially, it was presented as advanced schooling for diplomatic services. Unofficially, it served as a funnel for future intelligence operatives, groomed for life in shadows.

Vika's beauty, poise, and strategic mind quickly made her stand out in the program. She learned not only the craft of translation, but also the art of disinformation, the subtlety of coded speech, and the psychological dynamics of loyalty. Her instructors noted her restraint, her adaptability, and her startling calm under pressure — a young woman shaped by war, poverty, and silence.

By the time she was eighteen, her file was passed quietly to the KGB, the Soviet military intelligence agency. Her recruitment was less of a choice and more of an inevitability — her country had been shaping her for this role all her life. With a new name whispered into sealed folders and her first alias assigned, Viktoria Balshov stepped out of her youth and into the vast, cold machine of Soviet espionage.

✦ RELATIONSHIPS

✦ Perseus Vika doesn’t know Perseus’ full identity—and she doesn’t need to. What matters is the mission. To her, Perseus is an idea more than a person: control through information, justice through imbalance. She doesn’t follow out of admiration, but out of belief that the West’s unchecked power must be destabilized. She is loyal—but not blindly. If the cause compromises her personal code too far, she’d question her place.

✦ Dimitri Belikov

Vika and Belikov operate within the same quiet echelon of Soviet intelligence — the kind of people who know better than to ask questions, yet learn everything anyway. They share a professional closeness rooted in survival: trust is never spoken, only tested through action. Their chemistry is understated, almost mechanical on the surface, but layered with mutual respect and quiet tension. Vika values his subtlety and discretion; he respects her ability to disappear in plain sight. There’s something there — not affection, not romance — but familiarity sharpened by danger. In a different life, they might have been allies in something softer. In this one, they are tools pointed in the same direction, waiting for the other to pull the trigger first, if it ever comes to that.

✦ Other KGB Officers Vika keeps her distance. In her world, familiarity breeds exposure, and exposure is death. She’s respected but not liked — and she prefers it that way. Most view her as cold, unreadable, perhaps even strange.

✦ Positive Traits

Disciplined: Maintains strict control over her actions and emotions, rarely slips under pressure.

Observant: Misses nothing; pays attention to detail, body language, and subtext.

Strategic: Thinks several steps ahead; plans carefully before committing to a move.

Resilient: Handles stress, danger, and isolation without falling apart.

Loyal (selectively): Once she commits to a cause or individual, she follows through without hesitation.

Adaptable: Can shift roles, accents, and personas with ease in the field.

Efficient: Cuts out unnecessary effort; finishes tasks quickly and cleanly.

✦ Negative Traits

Emotionally Detached: Keeps people at a distance; struggles to form genuine connections.

Cynical: Often assumes the worst; rarely gives others the benefit of the doubt.

Secretive: Withholds information even when trust might benefit the mission.

Cold: Can come across as uncaring or indifferent, even when the situation is personal.

Overly Cautious: Hesitates to act without certainty, which can delay urgent decisions.

Unforgiving: Keeps mental records of slights or mistakes, and rarely lets go.

Rigid: Sometimes unwilling to adapt emotionally or ethically, even when the context shifts.

[elijahcruz47]

Blog #3

The current state of social media ethics: what trends are happening in the industry? (5 pts) 

Social media ethics are evolving at a fast pace, influenced by huge trends such as the use of AI-generated material, brand activism, and transparency in the data users provide. AI applications such as ChatGPT and DALL·E have facilitated the production of content—but it has also become difficult to fact-check. Deepfakes, fake influencers, and bot-inflicted disinformation have become the norm, and it is raising huge alarms. 

A further trend is the rise in brand activism—companies issuing strong statements in the name of society and politics. But people demand authenticity, and companies can soon be left engaging in performative activism if practice is not equaling the word. “Performative activism is an effort to appear supportive of social justice issues online to boost your social capital”. The topic of privacy and data ethics has only grown stronger with repeated failures at Meta and TikTok.    Sources:  - Forbes- https://www.forbes.com/sites/katyfinneran/2023/12/21/the-top-social-media-and-digital-marketing-trends-to-watch-in-2024/ 

- Pew Research – https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/06/16/experts-doubt-ethical-ai-design-will-be-broadly-adopted-as-the-norm-within-the-next-decade/ 

https://blog.globalbrigades.org/performative-activism#:~:text=Performative%20activism%20is%20an%20effort,activists%20on%20social%20justice%20concerns. 

 

What are two current cases related to social media ethics? (5 pts) 

1. X (formerly Twitter) and Disinformation 

Since the takeover of X by Elon Musk, he has eased moderation guidelines, and we have seen a flood of hate speech as well as disinformation. It has worried activist groups as well as advertisers, who have withdrawn ad spends or severed partnerships. It is the issue of whether or not the sites should have the responsibility to moderate harmful material. It is an argument to be had that it is taking people’s rights away, but is it in the interest of the greater good to stop things from being said? 

Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/how-elon-musk-uses-his-x-social-media-platform-to-amplify-right-wing-views 

2. Meta and Teen Harm Lawsuits 

More than 40 states in the U.S. sued Meta in late 2023 for allegedly making Instagram and Facebook addictive to teenagers to pave the way for profits rather than mental well-being. The suit claims Meta used psychological vulnerabilities specifically to get teens on their phones for maximum screen time. It is worth discussing as it is an interesting topic which would interest people. To determine whether the teens have fallen as victims or not, the teens would also like to be informed about it. 

Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/10/25/1208391495/meta-sued-by-states-claiming-instagram-and-facebook-fueled-youth-mental-health-c 

Outline the current code of ethics for social media by a professional organization you would be interested in joining as part of their social media staff. (10 pts) 

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is a professional organization I would like to join. Their Code of Ethics provides guidance that is directly relevant to social media professionals. Key elements include: 

Advocacy – Act as responsible advocates for clients and the public. 

Honesty – Communicate truthfully and accurately at all times. 

Expertise – Advance the profession through continuous learning. 

Independence – Provide objective counsel and avoid conflicts of interest. 

Loyalty – Be faithful to those we represent, while honoring the public interest. 

Fairness – Respect opinions and support the free flow of truthful information. 

These principles ensure that as a communicator, they will act with integrity and in the public’s best interests. 

Source: https://www.prsa.org/about/prsa-code-of-ethics 

What brands are utilizing proper social media ethical practices? (5 pts) 

Ben & Jerry’s is known for speaking out on social justice issues, and they are consistently back their word with action. Whether it's supporting climate justice or Black Lives Matter, they post transparently, cite sources, and collaborate with real activists. 

Source: https://www.benjerry.com/values/issues-we-care-about 

REI has also modeled ethical digital behavior, notably with their #OptOutside campaign. Instead of encouraging consumerism (the protection or promotion of the interests of consumers), they close stores on Black Friday and promote time in nature. 

Source: https://www.rei.com/blog/social/the-history-of-opt-outside 

Are there any professionals that you feel practice strong ethical behavior on social media? (5 pts) 

Dr. Anita Blanchard (UNC Charlotte professor) uses LinkedIn and X to share psychology content with respectful tone, scientific backing, and clear disclaimers. She never misleads or monetizes people’s trauma and is a model for academic responsibility online. 

Scott Monty, former head of social media at Ford, is widely recognized for promoting ethical leadership and crisis communication. He regularly publishes posts about accountability, media ethics, and digital professionalism. 

Source: Scott Monty's Blog 

What are some takeaways you can bring forth in your own practices? (10 pts) 

Always verify facts: Sharing false info, even unintentionally, damages trust. 

Transparency is non-negotiable: Whether it’s a brand deal or a mistake, I’ll own it publicly. 

Protect community privacy: I won’t post screenshots of DMs or leak data. 

Avoid emotional manipulation: No exploiting tragedy or drama for likes. 

Prioritize impact over metrics: Engagement doesn’t matter if it's built unethically. 

These takeaways help ensure I use my platform responsibly and make long-term impact instead of chasing short-term attention. 

What main concepts do you think are necessary to adhere to for your own personal conduct online? (20 pts) 

Transparency: Being clear when something is sponsored or opinion avoids misleading others. 

Authenticity: Real voices connect better than faked perfection; I’ll show honestly. 

Respect: Disagreeing respectfully allows for productive dialogue and less toxic spaces. 

Accountability: Mistakes happen. I’ll apologize, learn, and grow when they do. 

Empathy: The internet isn’t a vacuum—real people are behind every profile. 

Credibility: I’ll cite sources and avoid speculation, especially on sensitive topics. 

Cultural sensitivity: I’ll consider how my content may be interpreted across cultures. 

Consent: I won’t post about others without their permission. 

Consistency: My values shouldn’t change just because I’m online. 

Community-first thinking: I want to build spaces that benefit everyone, not just me. 

Sources:  

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/does-fact-checking-work-on-social-media/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://vistasocial.com/insights/ethics-of-social-media-marketing/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://www.globalmediajournal.com/open-access/ethical-issues-and-challenges-in-social-media-a-current-scenario.php?aid=92953&utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://focusme.com/blog/the-social-dilemma-how-to-avoid-social-media-manipulation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://vervecreative.studio/why-vanity-metrics-miss-the-mark-in-measuring-persuasion/?srsltid=AfmBOoqGARg1jEhDJw_aoRfuGhWCGjNor9KIO-1zdvQ62NtYsrFPC6Wk&utm_source=chatgpt.com  

What main concepts do you feel strongly against and want to make sure you avoid on social media? (20 pts) 

Clickbait: Misleading people with dramatic titles is dishonest and lowers credibility. 

Fake news: Sharing unverified info fuels public harm, especially during crises. 

Trolling or pile-ons: Public shaming may seem justified, but it can cross ethical lines quickly. 

Virtue signaling: I want to align my values with actions, not just posts. 

Unpaid or exploitative internships via posts: Normalizing this makes things worse for digital labor rights. 

All of these are unethical because they either mislead, harm, or exploit users, which is the opposite of what ethical social media aims to do. 

Sources:  

https://ethics.journalists.org/topics/clickbait-and-metrics/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://trilateralresearch.com/ethics-and-human-rights/fighting-misinformation-an-ethical-perspective?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychology-tomorrow/202204/virtue-signalling-can-be-good-thing?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://www.cofcexplained.com/post/why-unpaid-internships-aren-t-ethical-explained?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

 

List 5–10 core concepts that you will follow as a practicing social media professional. (20 pts) 

Transparency – Always disclose affiliations, sponsorships, or conflicts of interest. 

Respect – Treat everyone with dignity, even when disagreeing. 

Accountability – Apologize and correct mistakes publicly and promptly. 

Truthfulness – Never post content I haven’t verified or researched. 

Community well-being – Focus on content that uplifts or educates. 

Cultural sensitivity – Stay aware of potential misinterpretations or offenses. 

Anti-manipulation – No fake engagement, bots, or emotional exploitation. 

Growth mindset – Stay open to feedback and constantly learn. 

Sources:  

https://out-smarts.com/2022/02/12-rules-for-ethical-social-media-marketing/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://www.capgemini.com/news/social-media/social-media-code-of-conduct/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://www.businessethicsresourcecenter.org/five-principles-for-ethical-social-media/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/does-fact-checking-work-on-social-media/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

https://www.blueprint.ai/blog/social-media-for-therapists-a-professional-guide-to-ethical-and-effective-engagement?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

[lgalindezgarcia]

Social Media Ethics

By Luis Eduardo Galindez Garcia  

Trends in Social Media Ethics 

A growing trend in social media ethics is the emphasis on transparency and authenticity. Platforms are cracking down on misinformation, fake news, and AI-generated content. Users are demanding more accountability from influencers and companies regarding what they post and how they handle user data. 

Current Cases Related to Social Media Ethics 

One major case was the backlash against TikTok influencers promoting weight-loss products without disclosures. Another was the Meta whistleblower case, where internal documents revealed Facebook’s awareness of Instagram’s harmful effects on teen mental health. These cases highlight the urgent need for stronger ethical standards. 

Organization Code of Ethics 

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has a clear code of ethics that emphasizes honesty, advocacy, fairness, and accountability. I would be interested in joining an organization like this because it aligns with my belief that social media should be used to build trust and serve the public good. 

Brands with Strong Social Media Ethics

Patagonia is a good example of ethical social media use. They use their platforms to advocate for environmental protection, always disclose sponsorships, and don’t manipulate their audience with false urgency or unrealistic lifestyles. 

Professionals Who Model Ethical Behavior

One example is Dr. Julie Smith, a psychologist who uses Instagram and TikTok to share evidence-based mental health tips. She never sells false hope or miracle cures. Another is Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), who gives honest tech reviews without misleading sponsorships. 

Takeaways for Your Own Practice

I’ve learned that it’s important to always be transparent about who I am and what I’m promoting. I want to avoid sharing misleading content and make sure I give credit when using someone else’s work or ideas. Being respectful in comments and avoiding hate speech are also key takeaways. 

Important Concepts to Follow 

- Honesty: Tell the truth about products, experiences, and affiliations.  - Privacy: Protect people’s personal information.  - Consent: Always ask before posting about others.  - Transparency: Disclose sponsorships and paid ads.  - Accountability: Admit mistakes and correct them publicly.  - Respect: Avoid hate speech, bullying, and disrespect.  - Accuracy: Share only verified and credible information.  - Authenticity: Be real, not just performative.  - Inclusion: Promote diverse voices and viewpoints.  - Responsibility: Understand the influence you have. 

Unethical Practices to Avoid 

Practices I strongly disagree with include buying fake followers, spreading disinformation, using clickbait to mislead people, cyberbullying, and promoting unrealistic body standards. These behaviors are harmful because they damage trust, harm mental health, and manipulate audiences. 

Core Concepts You Will Follow 

- Tell the truth  - Be respectful  - Protect others’ privacy  - Give credit where it’s due  - Avoid spreading rumors  - Be transparent about sponsorships  - Don’t promote harmful content  - Stay open to different viewpoints  - Admit and correct mistakes  - Use social media to uplift, not tear down 

[xaltius]

Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: Safeguarding Our Digital Future

Artificial Intelligence, a force reshaping our world, holds incredible promise for advancing healthcare, sustainability, education, and countless other fields. Yet, like any powerful technology, AI possesses a dual nature. In the hands of malicious actors, its capabilities can be twisted to amplify existing threats and create entirely new ones. From sophisticated scams to autonomous weapons, the specter of AI misuse looms large.

The challenge is clear: as we embrace the transformative power of AI, we must simultaneously develop robust strategies to identify, mitigate, and disrupt its malicious applications. This isn't just a technical problem; it's a societal imperative.

The Dark Side of AI: Where Malice Manifests

Before we discuss disruption, let's understand some of the most concerning malicious uses of AI:

Deepfakes and Disinformation: AI's ability to generate hyper-realistic audio, video, and images can be used to create convincing fake content, fueling misinformation campaigns, impersonation fraud, and reputational damage.

Advanced Cyberattacks: AI can supercharge cyber threats by automating phishing attacks, developing polymorphic malware that evades detection, and conducting sophisticated network reconnaissance faster and more efficiently than humans.

Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS): The development of AI-powered weapons that can select and engage targets without human intervention raises profound ethical and security concerns about accountability, escalation, and the potential for uncontrolled conflict.

Privacy Invasion and Surveillance: AI can be used to rapidly process vast amounts of personal data, enabling intrusive surveillance, profiling, and targeted discrimination, often without explicit consent or oversight.

Targeted Manipulation and Social Engineering: AI can analyze vast amounts of data to create highly personalized and persuasive messages, making social engineering attacks (e.g., phishing, romance scams) far more effective and difficult to detect.

Automated Financial Fraud: AI can learn patterns of legitimate transactions to mimic them, creating sophisticated fraud schemes that bypass traditional detection methods.

Strategies for Disruption: Building Resilience Against Misuse

Disrupting malicious AI uses requires a multi-pronged, collaborative approach involving technologists, policymakers, ethicists, and the public.

Technical Countermeasures: Building Defensive AI:

AI for AI Detection: Developing AI models specifically designed to detect deepfakes, AI-generated text, and anomalous network behavior. This creates an ongoing "AI vs. AI" arms race, but it's a necessary defense.

Robust and Explainable AI (XAI): Building AI systems that are resilient to adversarial attacks (e.g., small perturbations to input data that trick the AI) and whose decision-making processes are transparent and auditable.

Secure AI Development Practices: Implementing MLOps (Machine Learning Operations) best practices that incorporate security from design to deployment, including secure coding, vulnerability testing, and model versioning.

Watermarking and Provenance Tracking: Developing methods to embed invisible watermarks in AI-generated content or to track the origin and modifications of digital media to verify authenticity.

Policy, Regulation, and Governance:

Clear Legal Frameworks: Governments worldwide are beginning to draft laws specifically addressing AI's malicious uses, defining accountability for AI-generated harm, and regulating high-risk AI applications like AWS.

International Collaboration: Given AI's borderless nature, international cooperation is vital to establish shared norms, best practices, and potentially treaties to prevent malicious AI proliferation.

Ethical AI Guidelines: Establishing clear ethical guidelines for AI development and deployment, promoting principles like fairness, transparency, accountability, and privacy.

Mandatory Audits and Impact Assessments: Requiring AI developers to conduct rigorous ethical and societal impact assessments for high-risk AI systems before deployment.

Education, Awareness, and Digital Literacy:

Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating the public about the risks of deepfakes, phishing, and other AI-powered scams, teaching critical media literacy skills.

Researcher and Developer Ethics Training: Integrating robust ethical training into AI and computer science curricula, fostering a culture of responsible innovation.

"Red Teaming" AI Systems: Actively probing AI systems for vulnerabilities and potential misuse cases by simulating malicious attacks in a controlled environment.

Collaborative Ecosystems:

Industry-Academic Partnerships: Fostering collaboration between companies and research institutions to accelerate the development of defensive AI technologies and share threat intelligence.

Public-Private Partnerships: Governments working with tech companies to develop strategies for identifying and countering malicious AI uses, sharing data and expertise.

Open Source for Good: Encouraging the open-sourcing of defensive AI tools and research to accelerate community-driven solutions.

The fight against malicious AI is an ongoing battle, a continuous cat-and-mouse game. There's no single silver bullet. However, by proactively investing in robust technical defenses, establishing comprehensive policy frameworks, educating our communities, and fostering a collaborative global ecosystem, we can significantly disrupt the malicious uses of AI and ensure that this powerful technology remains a force for good, safeguarding our digital future for generations to come.

[matthewsilverman]

Blog 3

The current state of social media ethics: what trends are happening in the industry?

The current state of social media ethics is very chaotic and messy. Many people just do not care about ethical behavior on the internet because they can hide behind a screen. Some of the trends related to ethics that are currently happening in the industry are an increase in disinformation, a decrease in fact checking, an increase in bias and an increase in harassment and inflammatory language. This is most likely happening due to the global political climate as well as an increase in political division and tension. Many people are also just unhappy and like to insult people online.

What are two current cases related to social media ethics?

One important case pertaining to social media ethics is NetChoice v Uthmeier in Florida which seeks to ban anyone under fourteen from social media websites. Another relevant case is NetChoice v Paxton and Moody which concerns whether states can prevent social media websites from removing certain posts and content.

Outline the current code of ethics for social media by a professional organization you would be interesting in joining as part of their social media staff.

Sag-Aftra currently has the following as the current code of ethics for social media staff. Respectful dialogue, avoid misrepresentation, do not speak on behalf of the organization, maintain confidentiality and avoid defamation. Many of these guidelines were implemented during the strike.

What brands are utilizing proper social media ethical practices?

Brands known for proper social media ethics include Patagonia, Etsy and Hello Fresh.

Are there any professionals that you feel practice strong ethical behavior on social media? 

Some professionals I feel practice strong ethical behavior on social media includes Tim Cook and Bret Baier.

What are some takeaways you can bring forth in your own practices?

I takeaway that I should remain positive, avoid politics and avoid controversial language and statements. I will also maintain a consistent voice and remain professional.

What main concepts do you think are necessary to adhere to for your own personal conduct online?

Being respectful and maintaining a profile that I am fine with my work and family viewing.

What main concepts do you feel strongly against and want to make sure you avoid on social media?

Avoiding making inappropriate and controversial statements as well as not making emotional posts and comments.

List 5-10 core concepts that you will follow as a practicing social media professional. 

Remain professional, use consistent tone, inclusion, tell the truth, use appropriate language and avoid the deadly sins of social media.

2023 WGA Strike Social Media Guidelines for Members. (n.d.). https://www.sagaftra.org/sites/default/files/sa_documents/WGA%20Strike_Social%20Media%20Guidelines%20for%20Members.pdf

bees, A. I. (2022, June 3). Top 15 Companies with Ethical Branding and Marketing for 2022. Medium. https://medium.com/@AI-bees.io/top-15-companies-with-ethical-branding-and-marketing-for-2022-671944f9d7d

(2025). Yuzu.com. https://reader2.yuzu.com/reader/books/9781071826881/epubcfi/6/24

[stephanie2025]

Blog #3

Stephanie Walker

The current state of social media ethics: what trends are happening in the industry? From what I've seen lately on some platforms the current state of media ethics is focused on keeping users data private. Lately some platforms are facing pressure to make ways to ensure users private information remains that way. Since Instagram is the platform I use the most most of the trends I have seen lately are reels that are related to AI content, short films that introduce books,movies,shows etc.

What are two current cases related to social media ethics? Two current cases that relate to social media ethics are Meta and Brizal vs X. For Meta it's basically parents against Instagram and Facebook. Parents are concerned about how teens and preteens are using these two platforms causing major backlash. The ethics for this problem are child safety, duty of care from platforms etc. For the second one its' about Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes began targeting tech companies like X which is basically Twitter for allegedly failing to moderate far-right disinformation. Moraes ordered content removals and threatened fines, prompting major backlash from Elon Musk, who called it a violation of free speech. The ethic regarding this issues are Censorship vs free expression which is the biggest ethic concerning the problem.

Outline the current code of ethics for social media by a professional organization you would be interested in joining as part of their social media staff. An organization I would love to join that has actually helped me in the past is a pet locator group on Facebook. This year my house caught fire and due to that my fur baby and my late grandmother's kitten went missing and it's due to this organization that we found them. The ethics they have are pretty simple. Have compassionate communication, community engagement, being knowledgeable about the laws and regulations always take accountability.

What brands are utilizing proper social media ethical practices?Some brands that I have recently found out about that are still utilizing ethical practices are Patagonia, TOMS shoes and more. They each highlight their commitment to fair labor and social responsibility. They showed their ethical practices through their branding and marketing. For example I read that TOMS shoes are famous for donating shoes for every sale they make.

Are there any professionals that you feel practice strong ethical behavior on social media? I feel like Lebron James has a very strong ethical behavior. He is actively vocal about social justice issues and he uses his standing on Instagram and raises awareness and tries to encourage a positive change in the issues. Whether it's on his lives or simple post or even after games whatever he posts on anything he is always willing to speak up about anything it's for small things or large things.

What are some takeaways you can bring forth in your own practices? The one thing I can definitely take away to to always be upfront about who I am and what I do. Avoid using misinformation or using fake news because lies will always catch up to a person no matter how famous they are.

What main concepts do you think are necessary to adhere to for your own personal conduct online? I think being mindful and your words and behavior is necessary when going online. For example recently I went through an issue with a family member going onto Facebook and saying some harsh things about my side of the family and she quickly got backlash and took the post down. Do not say anything online that you won't say in person I think should be the golden rule of being online.

What main concepts do you feel strongly against and want to make sure you avoid on social media? The one thing I can't stand on social media is bully/cyber bullying. All over social media there are people who are suffering from bullying online. It's so easy to hide behind a screen and judge people from a small fraction of their lives that they choose to show you. The best advice that I can give to avoid this kind of thing is either to be the bigger person and ignore them or turn off your comments.

List 5-10 core concepts that you will follow as a practicing social media professional. Include citations that you used. 1. Transparency: Always provide or disclose that a dealership, sponsorships were used. (PRSA Code of Ethics – Disclosure of Information). 2. Respect Privacy: Never share someones private information without their consent. (PRSA- Safeguarding Confidences). 3. Mental Health Awareness:Avoid exploitative content that could harm vulnerable users. (Daily Telegraph article on Meta targeting teens). 4. Accountability: Take responsibility for published content and engagement. ( PRSA Code – Free Flow of Information). 5. Ethical content creation: Avoid reposting harmful, insensitive, or uncredited content.( PRSA Code – Enhancing the Profession)

[massyunion]

Part 1/2 Hey folks, sorry we haven’t been active here for a while. Unfortunately, things have not been good at Massy. Since unionizing in September 2024, our boss has continued and escalated her retaliation on us. The boss bullied staff into quitting by making the workplace toxic. Then she laid off all but one of the remaining staff citing “financial issues” - exactly 5 months since we certified. We went from 12 staff members across the store and gallery to 1 staff member at the store. That’s 11 people who have now lost their income and been pushed into a volatile job market. We believe this is a tactic to weaken the workers collective going into negotiations. It’s difficult to participate in the process when you’re looking for a new job. We haven’t even gotten to the bargaining table yet as the employer has cancelled two bargaining meetings. She told our union representative that she does not want former or current workers at the bargaining meetings. This goes against the labour relations code. From our collective experience, we believe that the progressive values preached by the boss are largely in service of her own personal power and branding. Control and power over people is a consistent and emotionally abusive pattern at the workplace. People who question or challenge her actions or dictates, whether workers or authors, are punished. We’ve seen the boss permanently pull books from the shelves of authors who have supported our unionization (and prior to unionization, authors who have questioned or challenged her in general). On the flip side, we have also seen how the boss rewards people who either say nothing in the face of our oppression or actively contribute to her anti-union campaign of disinformation. All these advertised values contradict our lived experiences under her management. Queer workers, non-binary workers, and BIPOC workers, have generally been treated worse than her white workers. And this is something our white comrades have agreed is a problem. Many 2SLGBTQIA+ workers were treated poorly and even had their shifts taken away without prior discussion, even before we unionized. And her claiming to support workers rights and standing in solidarity with unions, while she retaliates against workers as a boss is hypocritical. Besides having most of our unionized workers pushed out of the workplace, there are two major issues that we want to see resolved. We demand that future employees are guaranteed a living wage. Despite the advertising of being a living wage employer, many employees' wages have significantly fallen short of a living wage. The second major issue is that of audio surveillance. We have experienced and believe that the boss continues to use audio surveillance to spy on her staff to monitor, punish, and control them. This is a long-standing issue that has created an environment of silence and fear within the workplace. Any claim to being anti-carceral and abolitionist contradicts this harmful practice. The idea that audio surveillance protects us is false. We demand that future employees are free from audio surveillance and spying tools!

[thoughtlessarse]

The voluntary effort by online platforms dates back to 2022, and sets out a range of commitments and measures to counter fake news online. All major online platforms except Elon Musk’s X will by July see voluntary commitments on disinformation formalised under the EU’s platform rules, the Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Commission announced on Thursday. The integration of the code of practice on disinformation into the DSA will “make it a benchmark for determining platforms' compliance with the DSA”, the Commission said. The code, dating back to 2022, was initiated and signed by 42 companies including Google, Meta, Microsoft and TikTok. It sets out a broad range of voluntary commitments and measures to counter online disinformation, such as transparency of political advertising and cooperation during elections. Making it more formal will mean that the Commission can more easily assess whether the companies comply with the DSA. However, signing it does not “presume innocence”, a senior EU official said.

continue reading

It's voluntary, which means they can ignore it, and with Trump's backing they will.

[devnews]

EU’s Disinformation Code moves closer to becoming DSA benchmark

Staying on the right side of the European Union’s online rulebook when it comes to the slippery topic of disinformation is set to get easier for platforms that commit to the bloc’s long-standing Code of Practice on Disinformation. You know, the voluntary Code that Elon Musk pulled X (formerly Twitter) out of back in 2023. The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) demands that such platforms take steps…

[treymccaffrey]

Trey McCaffrey Blog 3

Current social media ethics is on a hard down turn in our modern society.  One major trend that is happening everywhere is the spread of misinformation and disinformation.  Misinformation is information that is spread because of the thought that it is true but in reality it is false.  One very recent example is the picture that became big on social media was a wildfire that seemed to be engulfing the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles.  This was made by someone and posted most likely as a joke, but then someone who saw it and thought it was real spread it and it spread like a disease around social media.  Although this could be counted as disinformation on the part of the person that originally made it and posted it in the first place, everyone else posting it is counted as misinformation.  Disinformation is information that is spread by someone even though they know that it is false. One big example of disinformation is defamation.  A big case we witnessed recently was the court case of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard where Depp was suing Heard for a defamatory article she had written for the Washington Post stating that she was a domestic abuse victim.  Although she had not mentioned him by name in the article it was clear to everyone who the article was about. 

The Hollywood sign on fire image and the Depp V Heard case are two examples of recent and current cases on social media ethics. 

An organization that I would be interested in joining as a social media staff member would be Hasbro.  I feel that being able to spread information for them would be amazing.  The main part of their code is that all social media posts have to be authorized by the top designated people before they can be posted.  One obvious part is that it must comply with and adhere to Hasbro’s overall code of conduct.  Social media posts must preserve the image of Hasbro and nothing hurtful or defamatory to their name can be posted on their social media.  The final piece that I found, that not everyone may think about, is compliance and adherence to COPPA or Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.  This basically means that, because Hasbro is a children focused organization, posts made to their social media must be acceptable to be viewed by people of that demographic. 

After searching for some brands that use proper social media ethical practices I settled on one brand that really stuck out to me as using their social media for good ethical purposes, Patagonia.  Their most recent post on Instagram follows two of their trail run ambassadors who were taking part in the Bhutan Snowman Trek.  They both filmed their experience and the glaciers that surround the trial of the race.  One of the ambassadors Luke Nelson said that just two years before he had done the same trek and the glaciers were much smaller than what he had seen them at the two years prior.  This post brought many people to the comment sections voicing their own concerns about climate change.  It was a very strong video that moved me as I watched the whole thing.  The Snowman Trek also happens to be focused on climate change and how it affects the glaciers along its route. 

I feel that all professionals practice strong social media ethics but everyone has that one moment where they slip up and do the wrong thing. 

A practice that I can take into my own social media ethics is to make sure that I don’t spread misinformation by checking the validity of a story and/or an image that I want to repost or quote. 

I think I need to make sure I try to find every side of a story and compare them all to see what information lines up and what info doesn’t so I can determine differing views between different news sources or news social media accounts. 

Something I definitely want to avoid doing on social media is spreading disinformation.  Spreading disinformation is a terrible practice that I don’t think anyone should be doing at all.

Do not spread misinformation and disinformation

Validate any outside source, image or story

Make sure all posts are ethical and that they don’t harm anyone

Always make sure any information I post is true and legitimate

Make sure my posts do not infringe on any intellectual property

Have posts respect people of all groups

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Patagonia (@patagonia)

[williamgerlach]

The Current State of Social Media Ethics

The current state of social media ethics: what trends are happening in the industry?

A huge trend in social media ethics right now is cancel culture. Cancel culture is a product of the populus having a higher standard for their influencers and content creators, and is essentially social media ethics personified, except many take it a step further and seek retribution. At first, it was just about no longer following or engaging with brands or individuals who participated in unsavory behavior, but many have taken it a step further and publicly shame and criticize those who are being cancelled. The irony is that the act of public shaming is certainly unethical, but for many, that is the point. They see it as an “eye for an eye” scenario and maybe even see themselves as vigilantes upholding social order.

What are two current cases related to social media ethics?

Hayley Paige lost her Instagram account to her employer JLM Couture on the grounds that she had “’developed the account within the scope of her employment with [JLM]. Using the account to promote JLM’s goods was the kind of work she was employed to perform, as it was commensurate with her position as a lead designer,’” which led to her receiving a restraining order from her account, which she had been operating as her personal account for some time (Coleman, 2021).

Nick Sandmann was the victim of social media disinformation that accused him of harassing an opposing protester at the “March for Life” rally with a deceptive video, and the story was then picked up by The Washington Post (Schwartz, 2019). After investigation, it was discovered that Sandmann had, in fact, not harassed the other protester, and his family sued the Post for defamation, all because The Washington Post had believed a social media post designed to manipulate and disinform, instead of checking the facts and making sure the story they were running was accurate.

Outline the current code of ethics for social media by a professional organization you would be interesting in joining as part of their social media staff.

NPR has a strict code of ethics, and being that it is a news organization, adheres to them religiously. The pillars of their social media code of ethics are accuracy, fairness, completeness, honesty, independence, impartiality, transparency, accountability, respect, and excellence. It is also outlined that the individuals this code of ethics applies to are all the editorial staff, including, but not limited to: “leadership, managers, reporters, editors, newscasters, producers, visual journalists, data journalists, hosts and interns across the News and Programming divisions, as well as freelance editorial contributors and NPR events and promotions staff who shape editorially focused content,” and this code applies not only to their work for NPR, but also in how they present themselves on their personal accounts. This outline is exactly what an organization should have in place for their employees and would make it a great workplace and culture to join as a social media manager or management staff.

What brands are utilizing proper social media ethical practices?

An organization that operates ethically on social media while remaining entertaining is the TSA. The TSA regularly makes posts documenting confiscated items while keeping the posts entertaining and informative. They are never negative or attack a person or people in anyway, they are responsive to commenters with questions and regularly use puns and pop culture references to keep their posts more engaging to their audience. Their messaging is always on brand, too. Their content only pertains to the business they conduct and never strays. Most importantly, they are not offenders of any misappropriation, manipulation, or narcissistic behavior.

Are there any professionals that you feel practice strong ethical behavior on social media?

I don’t have social media anymore, and when I did, I didn’t follow many influencers, but the example used in the textbook of Antoni Porowski shows that he has a strong understanding of FTC law and of social media ethics. He doesn’t use deceptive practices and always makes it clear in both his content and captions when he is promoting a brand that has sponsored him. This is the transparency that all influencers show adhere to, and why Antoni is an ethical user of social media.

What are some takeaways you can bring forth in your own practices?

If I was to return to social media, or work as a social media manager, my primary concern would be authenticity and transparency. To be authentic, you can’t be overly concerned with other users and how you appear to them. If you operate ethically, kind of content you create won’t be a problem. Being true to yourself and your brand is what’s most important. As for transparency, you should know when to be transparent, and when not to be transparent. You should always be honest with your followers and the community you’ve built, which means disclosing any financial incentives you may have for posting certain content. Though you should also keep in mind that the internet is forever and anything you upload can be seen by anyone, meaning you should never get too personal or too casual with the information and content that you share about yourself, because you may not want other people to know those things, or some people may be offended by something you post that was only intended to be more casual.

What main concepts do you think are necessary to adhere to for your own personal conduct online?

Being aware of and knowing how to identify misinformation is a necessary skill for anyone who uses the internet and should be a primary concern for every social media user. We want to be well informed, and we want our information to be correct. Taking the time to investigate the account that posted the information, the date of the information, and the possibility that the information was targeted to you because of your own personal biases can save you a lot of hassle and the embarrassment of falling for a disinformation campaign on social media.

It is important to read the terms of use for every platform you use, because properly understanding the terms of use will allow you to discern whether a piece of content is appropriate or compatible with any given social platform and will save you the trouble of accidentally posting something that violates the terms of use.

Transparency when posting sponsored content is also important, not only for maintaining the trust of the community you’ve built, but also because it is against the law and the FTC could penalize you for doing so.

It also important that you don’t use content with a copywrite, as well as ask permission and give credit to the creators of any images, videos, or music that you use in your posts.

What main concepts do you feel strongly against and want to make sure you avoid on social media?

A concept I am strongly against is cyberbullying and public shaming. I touched a little bit on the subject earlier, but cyberbullying and public shaming are unacceptable I my opinion, even if the person on the receiving end has done something despicable. If we are to operate as an ethical and upstanding society, we need to behave on social media the same way we would in-person. Cyberbullying and public shaming are a product of the safety people feel behind a screen, which is compounded when they make burner accounts specifically for the purpose of harassing others.

Another concept I oppose is the use of bots to inflate followers, likes, and comments. The practice is deceptive and based in narcissist aesthetics and is used to inflate the ego of the account holder more than it is used to increase their reach or influence.

List 5-10 core concepts that you will follow as a practicing social media professional.

According to Steph Parker, the seven deadly sins of social media ethics are: misappropriation, abandonment, manipulation, ignorance, monotony, narcissism, and uniformity. It is necessary that you adhere to these concepts to be an ethical and entertaining content creator. Misappropriation focusses on whether an influencer or brand should join in on an irrelevant conversation or ignore a conversation that is relevant to their messaging/brand. A brand is guilty of abandonment if they stop posting and maintaining their account(s) altogether. Manipulation can take many forms on social media but is mostly a matter of authenticity from the influencer/brand and requires them to be transparent about their use of sponsored content and acts of charity in exchange for likes and views. A brand/influencer is guilty of ignorance when they are unaware of the terms and conditions of the platforms they use, and common practices, such as asking permission before using another person’s image(s). Monotony is the sin of being too repetitive, or too unoriginal in the content posted by a brand/influencer, and overall, just unentertaining. Narcissism is tough to define, because so much of social media is self-promotion, but influencers/brands are guilty of narcissism if they do something like buy followers to make themselves look more popular or unfollow other users because they want to have more followers than following. Finally, uniformity is when an influencer/brand does not tailor their content to the specific platform(s) they are posting to. If they post the exact same content at the same time on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn, they will be less engaging to their followers, particularly those active on multiple platforms.

[mimicschest]

web 2.0 brought many things. The most of which is convenience. By making things convenient, it was easier to capture an audience. To keep people on their sites for longer. To track them easier. To sell advertisements.

You know what it also is? A security flaw.

There have been countless data-breaches, hacks, and other things. Sites have to invest in ever increasing security. To protect their data. Which is always their real product. Because, big platforms are inherently more risky for data security. If you aren't using them, then basic digital hygiene is usually enough. Don't click risky links. Use an ad blocker. Don't give out personal information - practice disinformation when it comes to personal information stuff.

All of this is true. Yet, that isn't the full reason not to use these sites.

Data security isn't the only thing at risk with regards to centralization. Censorship, privacy violations, and fascistic takeover also becomes not only possible, but highly likely.

When you use a centralized service, authorities only have to go to one source to shut you down. To silence you. To find out who you are.

The internets robustness lies in its decentralized nature. The idea that anyone could make a website; to communicate with anyone else in the world. Start a blog. Write a newspaper. Make art.

Each step of centralization represents a vulnerability. It isn't just criminals that have to fear. Authoritarians have repeatedly tried to kill the internet, locking it down to walled gardens. And we see now what happens when the people in charge of these centralized services are politically and ideologically aligned to an authoritarian. Just look at what is happening between the trump administration and musk.

The internet is locked down. But its fundamental structures are still open. Anyone could still make a website. In theory, you could also host a server at home off of an old computer. ISPs are still an issue, and not one that is easy to fix. There are free and largely anonymous web-hosts as well.

You also don't have to go all in. Any step away from these large platforms is a step in the right direction. I keep up a website myself for this reason. I use open-source or shareware stuff whenever I can.

Get off of twitter. Get off of facebook. Tumblr is fine for now, but is owned by a elon fanboy, so I wouldn't be putting my hopes on him.

Youtube is a harder nut to crack. Fundamentally, video hosting is expensive. You need server space to hold the videos. You can embed a video into a website directly now-a-days with just a single line of html code. The problem is audience size. If a lot of people are watching your video, that represents a lot of information being streamed. That is a lot of bandwidth. Peertube is a thing, and it even has some discoverability features, but you still need a place to actually put the videos. Once the video is shared, it uses something not unlike torrenting so that, anyone who is watching the video, is sharing some of the effort of streaming that video to other people.

That doesn't change the fact that most of the content is on youtube. I don't use the youtube app on my phone; I just use firefox and add on some extensions to customize it. Like showing the dislikes and removing ads, and removing youtube shorts - its a huge time sink. You can also use things like freetube or NewPipe, depending on platform, to watch the videos. Support the creators you watch directly. Sponserships exist for a reason. So do things like patreon or donation links or they have their merch. Cut out youtube as a middleman, and if they have a website, bookmark it. Follow them on things like mastadon or bluesky. Get a rss feed extension for your browser and go to the channels you actually watch. Youtube subscriptions are ultimatelly just rss feeds, and you can get updates directly from your browser about them. Share them on your websites or your socials to spread word; don't rely on the algorithm to show you what you want to see.

Discord is another problem. I won't be getting rid of it myself right now, but at least it is an easier problem to find alternatives for, since messaging clients and servers have been around since even before the http protocol was even a thing. Discord is ultimately not too different to a massive irc service. You also have open-source and even peer to peer solutions that are more modern. If discord also starts being fascisty, I will encourage my contacts to move to something else.