What are social and Ethical Issues?
Social and ethical issues refer to any problems that influences an individual, group or community in a matter which is deemed as ethically wrong. Through the continuous use of technology, many social and ethical issues have arisen through the use of laptops and computers via the Internet which may include issues such as cyber-bullying, piracy, illegal downloading or streaming, hacking, identity theft or fraud, scams and privacy issues like sharing of personal information e.g. address, name, date of birth, passwords, account etc. Most social and ethical issues relating to technology revolve around the constant use of social media networks.
Cyberbullying![]() Cyberbullying is the action of bullying through abusing or harassing someone else over the Internet through the use of different media types.
Cyberbullying is an extremely common issue that has arisen through the use of technology and has mainly occurred through social media websites and applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. The Internet and social media makes it easy for cyberbullying/harassment as it is very indirect and the person doesn't have to worry about any consequences as well as having the option of remaining anonymous. As a student, the best way to deal with this issue is to talk to someone you know and trust such as a parent, guardian or teacher who can help you take action against this issue. Also, keep track of all evidence such as messages, comments, images and/or videos that could further help you in your case where police/detectives can solve the problem, where consequences are made for the cyber attacker. If you are still struggling to be able to talk to someone that you are close to, there is a free, private and confidential calling service called Kids Helpline. If you would like to give them a call, the phone number is: 1800 55 1800. Or visit the website for more supportive information: www.kidshelp.com.au Illegal Downloading and StreamingIllegal downloading is the download or copying of copyrighted material on the Internet and illegal streaming is the viewing and watching of copyrighted material in which the video is most likely pirated and redistributed without permission.
This issue is by far one of the most common as it is very easily accessible to everyone. Spending money to buy new music, movies, games, software or television shows can be a struggle, therefore they decided to just download or stream it on the Internet for free but it has its own risks. There are a lot of untrustworthy sources on the Internet, therefore there are some chances of scams or viruses when you use them. People who are caught with a copyright infringement may incur heavy fines or penalties. A solution to repel yourself from the situation can include the usage of legal alternatives of streaming services such as Spotify (free or premium), Apple Music, Netflix, Stan and more. All of these services are cheap, satisfying and entertaining, where the cost range is only from $8.99-$15 a month with included free trials. Identity Theft/FraudIdentity theft and fraud is the practice of using another person's name and personal information to gain access to their assets such as money or credit by impersonating them.
This is a very serious issue as many people on the Internet try to imitate others in order to gain some benefits for themselves which can quite easily occur through social media as some people show off all their personal information without knowing the dangers. People who show off images of their licenses, credit cards, certificates or personal information like addresses and date of birth can be easily targeted. The simplest way of preventing this issue is to be careful or who and where you share your personal information with. For extra protection, some social media sites and applications have a setting where you can choose what is made public or private which may help to protect you. |
PiracyPiracy is the unauthorized use and redistribution of copyrighted material which is illegal and someone caught may be fined and punished with up to 5 years in prison.
Many people usually do not have the money to continuously buy new music, movies, games or television shows that are released so people who do attain them try to redistribute it for free or at a lower price. This issue is very wrong and unfair as it disadvantages the owners of the copyright material who are just trying to make a living by selling it for their profit, not the ones who pirates for their living. This issue is very popular in many countries where these laws are not being settled or familiar with, mostly in Asian countries. HackingHacking is the process of gaining unauthorized access to data or information in a system or computer.
Hacking is basically a way of theft through the Internet where they try to gain access to something which they cannot physically get such as records, security, accounts, bank thefts and personal information. The most common occurrence of hacking are through games where people try to get ahead in it by hacking the accounts of better players but most games provide security against such threats. The computer also can include software that can track any suspicious activity and prevent it from being hacked. ScamsA scam is a dishonest scheme or fraud that tries to trick others so that they can profit out of it.
On the Internet, there are numerous untrustworthy websites and sources that try to scam the user by promising cheap deals, free items or methods which is aimed to intrigue the user's curiosity. These scams can be found in various places such as e-mails, games, websites, advertisements, links and forums which most often turns out to be fake as a means to gain profit or steal personal information. To prevent this issue, it's best to stay clear from any suspicious looking websites and advertisements seen online and be careful with the websites and people that you trust. A good way to tell is by looking at the website URL, if it has .org, .edu or .gov then you should be able to trust it but you can also download specific software that has Internet security such as AVG, McAfee, Norton or Trend Micro. Most of the features for the software are free but if you want extra protection or features then u can pay for a yearly subscription. PrivacyPrivacy is the state of being free from public attention and relates to anything deemed personal by the individual or organization.
Privacy has become a big issue due to all the new advancements in technology where people can easily access other people personal information by searching for it. Through social media, people tend to share parts of their personal information for everyone to see which can be dangerous because that information can lead to bullying, hacking, scams and even encourage stalkers. To protect your own privacy, be very careful when trusting strangers that you meet online as well as be careful with the things that you share or post on social media. Do not share any personal information with websites or people that you do not trust .Make sure to also put the privacy setting on if necessary and if anything serious happens, talk to someone you trust like a parent or guardian. |