Overview: For this discussion, students will investigate the issues and implications of ethical use of online data.

Preparation: Read the 'As Data Overflows Online, Researchers Grapple with Ethics' article from the Annual Editions: Technologies, Social Media, and Society text.

Instructions:  

Initial Posting

Read the 'As Data Overflows Online, Researchers Grapple with Ethics' article on pages 28 - 29. In the discussion post area, discuss the following:

Is Professor Jeffrey T. Hancock's likening of this 'new era' to 'when chemistry go the microscope' a valid metaphor? Why or why not?

How much of a concern should it be that Facebook may have the power to sway election results?

Does Professor Hancock's contention that the researchers did not realize that manipulating the news feed would make people feel violated, help to remove at least some of the researchers' culpability? Explain.

Reply Post

Choose another student's posting that interests you.

Conduct additional research relating to the posting.

Post a summary regarding the information you found relating to the original post.

Be sure to cite your source information.

Grading Criteria for the Initial Post:

Demonstrates a clear understanding of the issues.

Demonstrates safe and responsible use of information technology (performance criteria 3.1)

Supplements discussion content with documented research

Demonstrates writing conciseness and correctness and is written to elicit a response from another student. (e.g., What does everyone else think? Does anyone have an opinion about this topic?)

Grading Criteria for the Initial Post:

Demonstrates a clear understanding of the original post content.

Supplements discussion content with additional documented research.

Demonstrates writing conciseness and correctness and demonstrates appropriate netiquette as outlined in the course syllabus guidelines.