Think before you type: Social Networking and Micro-blogging Ethics

With social networking and blogging services such as Facebook and Twitter, online publishing and sharing information becomes so quick and easy, it is just a click away. However, many people do not think twice before posting materials on their personal websites. Hence, many cases that occurred in the past decade prove how hazardous and destructive these sites can be, especially to one’s career. Johnson (2010) states that many people turn to the Web for information and news, hence the need for strong ethical practices increases. She lists five ethical principles as follows:

1. Fiduciary principle – requiring diligence, candor, loyalty to company, disclosure of conflict of interest.
2. Property principle – requiring respect for others’ property.
3. Transparency principle – requiring accuracy, truthfulness, and honesty prohibiting fraud, deceit, misrepresentation.
4. Citizenship principle – requiring civic contribution prohibiting injury/damage to society.
5. Responsiveness principle – readiness to listen, responding to complaints/suggestions, addressing legitimate concerns of others.

There have been numerous cases where employees have gotten themselves in trouble with their employers due to carelessly publishing materials online (Twist 2004). Perhaps one of the earliest and most prominent incidents was when Delta Airlines flight attendant, Ellen Simonetti, was suspended from her job after posting up inappropriate images of herself in her uniform on her blog, “Diary of a Flight Attendant”. Also known as Queen of Sky in the blogosphere, Simonetti (2004) said the reason she started her blog was as a form of therapy following her mother’s death the previous year. According to BBC news, Simonetti never meant for those pictures to harm the company. However, she was still suspended without warning and has since filed a sex discrimination complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Hence, this issue highlighted concerns about employment law and free speech on personal websites among the blogging community (Twist 2004).

Ellen Simonetti posed in her uniform for her blog (source: connect.in.com)

In another case, a 16 year-old office worker was fired for groaning about her boring job on the social networking site Facebook. Kimberley Swann posted a few comments on her Facebook profile regarding her job, such as, “first day at work. omg (oh my God)!! So dull!!”. Little did she know that three weeks later, those exact words came back to haunt her when her boss discovered them on the net (Levy 2009). Subsequently, she was called to the office and was fired on the spot. The two cases clearly depicted how careers can suffer due to postings on the net. Both Simonetti and Swann were shocked although their images and comments were never intended for their employers to see.

As new media users, we must always be aware that people are constantly listening to what we say. Gerbyshack (2009) reminds us that everything we say online will be captured forever, and this can be re-broadcast across the globe. Hence, we need to abide by the rules and practice ethical publishing. We must also remember that as an employee, we do not have absolute free speech anymore (Twist 2004).

References:

Gerbyshack, P 2009, Fired for facebook and twitter, Philgerbyshack.com, 19 March, viewed 13 November 2010,<http://www.philgerbyshak.com/fired-for-facebook-and-twitter/>

Johnson, J 2001, Is it ethical? Setting company standards for social networking, blogging, and microblogging, Slate Strategy, 29 July, viewed 13 November 2010, <http://www.slatestrategy.com/2010/07/29/is-it-ethical-setting-company-standards-for-social-networking-blogging-and-microblogging/>

Levy, A 2009, ‘Teenage office worker sacked for moaning on Facebook about her ‘totally boring’ job’, Dailymail.co.uk, 26 February, viewed 13 November 2010, <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1155971/Teenage-office-worker-sacked-moaning-Facebook-totally-boring-job.html>

Simonetti, E 2004, ‘Perspective: I was fired for blogging’, Cnet News, 16 December, viewed 13 November 2010,<http://news.cnet.com/I-was-fired-for-blogging/2010-1030_3-5490836.html>

Twist, J 2004, ‘Blogger grounded by her airline’, BBC news, 27 October, viewed 13 November 2010,<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3955913.stm>