Networked Communications - Ethics for the Information Age

Information Technology Reference

In-Depth Information

conclude Kate did nothing wrong, but an act utilitarian evaluation would conclude Kate

did something wrong.

45. Divide the class into teams representing each of the following groups:

Small, struggling business

Large, established corporation

Internet service provider

Consumer

Discuss the value of direct email versus other forms of advertising, such as direct mail,

television advertising, radio advertising, the Yellow Pages, and setting up a Web site.

46. A company uses pop-up advertising to market its software product, which blocks pop-

ups from appearing when someone is surfing the Web. Debate the morality of the

company's marketing strategy.

47. Ad-blocking software attachments to Web browsers enable a Web surfer to visit Web

sites without having to view the pop-up advertisements associated with these Web pages.

Debate this proposition: “People who use ad-blocking software are violating an implicit

'social contract' with companies that use advertising revenues as a means of providing

free access to Web pages.”

48. In 2000 the Estonian parliament passed a law declaring Internet access to be a funda-

mental human right of its citizens. Divide the class into two groups (pro and con) to

debate the following proposition: Internet access should be a fundamental human right,

along with such other fundamental human rights as the right to life and the right to free

speech.

49. How do you determine the credibility of information you get from the Web? Does the

source of the information make any difference to you? If so, how would you rank the

reliability of each of the following sources of Web pages? Does the type of information

you're seeking affect your ranking?

Establishment newspaper

Counterculture newspaper

Television network

Corporation

Nonprofit organization

Individual

50. Martin Dula has suggested that parents should not provide their children with phones

capable of taking photos and videos because these phones tempt children to participate

in sexting [68].

Debate the following proposition: Parents and legal guardians should not allow

their children under the age of 18 to own cell phones capable of taking, transmitting,

or receiving photographs or videos.