Social Media Ethics and COVID-19: Well-Being, Truth, Misinformation, and Authenticity

Social media ethics and COVID-19 have been explored in a new book, which examines the ethical challenges of social media, including inaccurate information, hate, and conspiracy theories. The book brings together work from leading scholars in communication, English, philosophy, and political science to offer a multidisciplinary understanding of the subject and tools for managing the challenges found at the intersection of social media, ethics, and COVID-19.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 170 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2024
Publisher: Lexington Books

Social media has played a significant role in shaping the way we communicate and interact with each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. While it has provided a platform for people to stay connected, share information, and raise awareness about the virus, it has also been a source of misinformation, hate, and conspiracy theories. This has led to a "post-truth" and polarized world, where it is difficult to determine what is accurate and what is not.

One of the ethical challenges social media poses for corporate providers, government officials, and users is the responsibility for inaccurate information posted by users. Corporate providers are responsible for ensuring that the information they provide on their platforms is accurate and reliable. However, this can be difficult to achieve, as users can post anything they want without any oversight or regulation. Government officials are also responsible for ensuring that the information they provide on social media is accurate and reliable. However, they may face challenges in doing so, as social media can be a powerful tool for spreading misinformation and propaganda.

Users also bear responsibility for the information they post on social media. While they have the right to express their opinions and beliefs, they must also be responsible for the accuracy of the information they share. This includes checking the sources of the information they post and verifying the accuracy of the information before sharing it.

During the height of the COVID-19 crisis, public health agencies, emergency management agencies, and traditional news media used social media to disseminate or track information. This was a critical tool in helping to prevent the spread of the virus and to provide information to the public. However, users also posted and amplified inaccurate or misleading scientific and health information, engaged in hate, and escalated conspiracy theories that have proven detrimental to the public health response to COVID-19.

To address these ethical challenges, this collection brings together work from leading scholars in communication, English, philosophy, and political science to examine the ethical use of social media during COVID-19. The collection offers both a multidisciplinary understanding of the subject and tools for managing the challenges found at the intersection of social media, ethics, and COVID-19.

One of the key themes of the collection is the importance of transparency and accountability in social media. Social media platforms should be transparent about their policies and practices, and they should be accountable for the information they provide. This includes providing clear guidelines for users to follow and taking action against users who violate these guidelines.

Another key theme of the collection is the importance of community engagement. Social media platforms should engage with their users to build trust and to provide a safe and supportive environment. This includes responding to user feedback and addressing concerns.

In addition to these themes, the collection also explores the role of social media in shaping public opinion and behavior. Social media can be a powerful tool for promoting social change, but it can also be used to spread misinformation and propaganda. This has led to a need for greater regulation of social media platforms.

One of the challenges of regulating social media platforms is the fact that they are global in nature. This means that they are subject to different laws and regulations in different countries. This can make it difficult to enforce regulations and to ensure that social media platforms are operating in a fair and transparent manner.

To address this challenge, the collection suggests that governments should work together to develop global regulations for social media platforms. This would include setting standards for transparency and accountability, and providing for the enforcement of these standards.

In conclusion, social media has played a significant role in shaping the way we communicate and interact with each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. While it has provided a platform for people to stay connected, share information, and raise awareness about the virus, it has also been a source of misinformation, hate, and conspiracy theories. To address these ethical challenges, this collection brings together work from leading scholars in communication, English, philosophy, and political science to examine the ethical use of social media during COVID-19. The collection offers both a multidisciplinary understanding of the subject and tools for managing the challenges found at the intersection of social media, ethics, and COVID-19.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666911886