Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Ethical Fails in Social Media

In our reading of "Share This", our class discussed the ethical fails that can occur through improper use of social media. Even though social media gives us the opportunity to post whatever we want whenever we want, there are limitations to what should be posted. Ethical behavior should be at the forefront of any brand spokesperson, because it is a direct reflection on the business’ values.

When voicing an opinion, PR people can walk a thin line between what is acceptable and what is crossing the line. When deciding what is ethical, the poster must consider when, where, and how he or she is utilizing social media tools. It is also crucial that there is more than one person reviewing the PR material before it is posted on social media.

"Share This" lists the 4 categories where we can find majority of ethical blunders.
1. Offensive content
2. Hijacking the serious news agenda
3. Misrepresenting a brand or person
4. Taking social content out of context


Business Insider lists a few of the biggest social media failures in 2013. Majority of these failures fall into one of Share This’ categories. In the article, it is enlightening to see how quickly people willingly respond with their brutal opinions. It also reveals how important it is to maintain ethical conduct.

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