FRONTLINES
HERE ARE A FEW GENERAL GUIDELINES ABOUT HOW TO OPERATE ETHICALLY ONLINE
BE OPEN ABOUT YOUR IDENTITY
Although there may be reasons to, on occa- sion, post an anonymous comment online, usually it’s a better idea to identify yourself. It’s a matter of standing behind what you say, good or bad. People find it much more difficult to post a snide or hurtful remark if they know they may be held accountable.
BE PRUDENT
ILLUSTRATION BY KEITH NEGLEY
Understand that all digital communication is in the public eye. Often we think e-mail, a text message, or a post to a social network might have a limited, specific audience. But what if someone distributes your comment? Some- thing you post, including a photograph or seemingly harmless comment, can stay in the digital record for many years, so be thoughtful, and understand the audience might be much wider than you’d ever imagined. Ask yourself how you would feel if your family read this or saw this, or your boss or co-workers.
Ethics in a digital world
By DON HEIDER Dean, School of Communication
M
any of us spend hours each day in front of a glowing screen working, communicating, and playing around. Digital technology has brought
FAST CLASS
some amazing changes, such as the ability to communicate almost instantly and access to huge storehouses of information. Through chat rooms, e-mail, text messages, comments sections, and virtual worlds, we have more ways of interacting with others than ever before. But with
this changing technological landscape come new ethical questions. How do people behave when they believe they are anonymous? Are we the same people online as we are off? This year, Loyola’s School of Communication launched a new Center for Digital Ethics & Policy (
digitalethics.org) to help examine these and other questions.
Hear Don Heider speak more on this topic during Fast Class: Loyola On the Road (see op- posing page).
The Center for Digital Ethics and Policy will host an international symposium October 28. Game designer Jane McGonigal will be the keynote speaker.
BE TRUTHFUL
Don’t manipulate images or facts. Attribute information if it comes from other sources. Do not post other people’s creative work without understanding a bit about copyright. There are good sites to find rights-free materials, but a basic understanding of copyright goes a long way when posting material online.
TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU’D LIKE TO BE TREATED
Sometimes we forget that behind every com- ment, blog, or avatar there is another human being. Don’t let the technology dehumanize others. Ask yourself if you would say what you’re saying face-to-face. Also, understand that emotion is hard to communicate on the Internet. It’s not uncommon for people to interpret a message as angry when that’s not the intent. Try to be clear and kind in all your communication. Try writing the comment, not sending or posting right away, and then reviewing it a bit later. Ask yourself: how would I feel if this message were directed at me?
12 LOYOLA UNIVERSIT Y CHICAGO
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