Ethical And Legal Fundamentals In Social Media

Chapter 2

Ethical and Legal

Fundamentals in Social

Media

Learning Objectives

• Identify key concepts that are important to social media

ethics and law.

• Define ethics and construct your own ethical standards

for social media.

• Recognize the consequences and challenges social

media raises for legal and ethical purposes.

• Explain key ethical and legal principles for establishing a

social media policy.

• Understand the current ethical and legal landscape for

working in social media.

Freberg, Social Media and Strategic Communications, 1e. © SAGE Publications, 2019 2

Chapter Overview

• Understanding the different platforms, tools, and

communities that involve social media is one

thing.

• However, we also need to be aware of the

underlying legal and ethical implications that help

guide our practices, communication efforts, and

behaviors online.

• Ethics falls into the same circumstances as well.

Freberg, Social Media and Strategic Communications, 1e. © SAGE Publications, 2019 3

Ask Yourself These Questions..

• Do I care if people search previous updates from

high school (pictures, messages, blog posts) to

use for job interviews?

• Am I aware that while I have set my settings on

my accounts to be “private”-–they really are not?

• Do I care if I send out a tweet or snap that may

look “cool” online with my friends, but could

reflect poorly on the organization or company I

represent?

Freberg, Social Media and Strategic Communications, 1e. © SAGE Publications, 2019 4

Ask Yourself These Questions..

(cont.)

• Am I aware one update that was made in a spark

of emotion or outrage could result in getting

suspended from my job, missing out on a job

opportunity, or even get fired?

• Do I understand the impact of sharing my opinion

online for the world to see, and the community,

professional, and global implications toward my

personal brand?

Freberg, Social Media and Strategic Communications, 1e. © SAGE Publications, 2019 5

Ask Yourself These Questions..

(cont.)

• Am I aware of the power (and risks) associated

with saying something online and the effects it

may have on another person?

What Are Ethics?

• Ethics are a set of moral guidelines and

principles.

• Having a set ethical code of conduct is essential.

• These guidelines help us tell the difference