Write a brief ethical analysis of facebooks practice

Assignment Help Other Subject

Reference no: EM132372232 , Length: word count : 300

An Ethics Case Study

Irina Raic

In 2017, Facebook's "People Insights" blog published a post titled "What Mends a Broken Heart on Facebook." In it, the company's researchers detailed insights that they had gathered by examining "how the break-up moment influenced the online behaviors of people across France, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom who indicated on Facebook that they recently went through a break up."

One of their findings was that "there could be a gap between the break up itself and the Facebook post announcing it. During the two weeks before and the two weeks after their break-up announcement," they explained, users "accepted more than one invitation to an event 40% more than [during] the 60 days before and 60 days after their announcement."

The researchers also noted that "'Healing,' detox,"drowning sorrows,' binge watching' and 'suffering' are just some of the words and phrases that are more pronounced in men's posts before they mark themselves 'Single.' The same types of words and phrases are more pronounced in women's posts on the actual day of their announcement."

As to what helps people get over a breakup, Facebook researchers wrote that "[g]aining new experiences... seems to be more therapeutic than buying things." Under the subhead "What it means for marketers," the post then asks, "How can brands be a part of the journey to help mend people's broken hearts?" Suggested answers include "Empathize with them" and "Offer them new experiences." The post concludes by encouraging potential Facebook advertising clients: "Tracking signals of intent to travel, experience new things or take up a new hobby can help you reach this group with a relevant ad at the right time."

ASSIGNMENT:

Write a brief ethical analysis (250-500 words) of Facebook's practice. Consider at least some of Velasquez's four moral standards (from Chapter 2) in your response. Also feel free to present your own opinion and judgment, but be sure to provide good reasons for your perspective. Do you think it is ethical for Facebook to "mine its users' posts for signals that those users are about to go through a break up? Is it ethical for the company to then help its clients target their ads based on this research?"

Reference no: EM132372232

Questions Cloud

Describe the historical development of the humanities : Describe the historical development of the humanities from the prehistoric era to the present. Identify significant cultural developments from a variety.

Summarize the key details about your organization : Using the same organization you identified in Week 1, critically analyze interventions for addressing organizational problems using individual OB themes.

What conclusions do you make about the relevance of MAS : Holmes Institute, Australia - HI5017 Managerial Accounting Assignment. What conclusions do you make about the relevance of MAS

Explain a strategy you might use as a social worker : Post an analysis of how classism has factored into your life. Then, explain a strategy you might use as a social worker to address the impact of class.

Write a brief ethical analysis of facebooks practice : Southern Cross University-Australia-Do you think it is ethical for Facebook to "mine its users' posts for signals that those users are about to go through.

Explain how recommendations would address class issues : Power, privilege, and classism are interconnected. The more privilege you enjoy, the more power you have to access opportunities that build wealth.

Identify the problems the product will face : MRKT20052 - Marketing Management and Digital Communications - Central Queensland University - Discussion of the segmentation, targeting and positioning

How to recognize and respond to cases of abuse expertly : Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse can have a devastating impact on a child and his or her family members. Social workers need to understand how to recognize

How does science work to solve environmental problems : How does science work to solve environmental problems? Explain the steps in the scientific process as it relates to an environmental problem and describe.

User Account

All Pages