Introduction
The case study revolves around the dilemma concerning the data used from the social networking sites by companies and the ethical responsibility associated with it. The case depicts the benefits reaped by the companies from the opportunities presented by the social networking sites as well as the darker side associated with it.
Thesis Statement
Social networking sites have presented many impressing opportunities to the companies as well as individuals, but it also has its dark sides. The legal authorities are lagging behind in time as compared to the advancement in social networking technology, giving it the freedom to conduct unethical measures.
With the exponential advancement in the social networking sites, the legal authorities have not risen to the occasion fast enough. Because of their lack of work in this regard, the companies like IBM have invested tremendously in extracting and using the data of its existing and potential consumers from social networking sites. The boundaries here between ethical and unethical are very fine, and thus the legal activities now can be considered illegal in the future, when the legislation will get to the same pace.
1-Benefits and Risks Associated with the Use of Social Networking
The Social networking sites were designed to bring the users closer regarding their interests, their expertise, and their personal lives. The aim was to give wider opportunities for sharing of ideas, interests, expertise, and one’s personal lives with each other. It has been used by companies and individuals for creating a shared network among the organization employees, for encouraging the sharing of ideas, discussions, and sense of unity. Companies like IBM have developed private social networks like Blue Pages and Wikis. It is also benefiting companies for better marketing and using of the data extracted from these sites to know consumer behavior and their preferences. It brings us to the darker side of it. The access and using of the data related to the users of these sites to use it to predict better the consumer behavior can be unethical in a way that it uses the personal information of the users without their consent and knowledge (Massotte, 2017).
2-Difference between Use of Social Network by Companies & Individuals
Individuals use the social network for sharing their ideas, experiences, expertise, and information about their personal lives. Companies, on the other hand, use it many ways. They use it for their brand awareness, the establishment of the customer base, generating potential leads, marketing their services and products, and extracting data for determining consumer analytics.
3-Information tracked for Advertising Purpose
Yes, of course. I am very much concerned with the use of my personal information for advertising. It is not right in any way. The thought of others having access to my personal information is alone scary enough to consider it unethical. Furthermore, the use of this information for advertising the products would be considered as restricting my freedom to look for the products by my free will and effort. It might have influencing effects as well, which I am not aware of it. That’s why it is troublesome to know that one’s information can be used for advertising.
4-Comparison between Blue Pages and Facebook
Blue Pages are comparatively a private network as compared to Facebook. Facebook is an international public medium of social networking in which anyone from any region can get connected. Blue Pages, on the other hand, is limited to the employees of the IBM worldwide. The employees of Blue Pages share things as per the code of conduct of IBM. The Facebook users do not have to comply with any code. The information on both sites is unsafe as both are in access of the companies.
5-Responsibilities of Companies regarding Networking Sites
The companies are responsible for not exploiting the data accessed by them in their private networking sites. They are also responsible to not give the accessed data to any other company or individual for commercial or individual use. The privacy of each of the individual user’s information shared should be regarded by companies.
6-Ethical Consideration of the Use of Networking Data by Companies
I don’t think so. I think it is not ethical at all for using the data shared by individuals on networking sites without their knowledge and consent. It is not ethical because the users do not know that their information can be used in any way by companies. Moreover, using it to advertise is also unethical, as it can influence my buying behavior (Weiss, 2014).
Conclusion
Concluding, it can be said that the rise of technological advancement has caused the legalization of it to remain behind. Thus, the legality of the activities concerned with the ethics of it which are not yet decided can be considered illegal in the future.
References
Massotte, P. (2017). Ethics in Social Networking and Business : Theory, Practice and Current Recommendations. John Wiley & Sons.
Weiss, J. W. (2014). Business Ethics: A Stakeholder and Issues Management Approach. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
+447462439809