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Social Contract Theory Analysis

The document discusses internet addiction and examines whether it is a real condition. It notes that while some experts argue that internet addiction meets the definition of addiction, others disagree since computer use is generally positive and does not involve illegal behavior. Contributing factors may include social and situational stresses as well as individual tendencies. Ethically, some views hold individuals responsible for choices while others argue society shares responsibility if it creates hopeless situations for people.

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89 views24 pages

Social Contract Theory Analysis

The document discusses internet addiction and examines whether it is a real condition. It notes that while some experts argue that internet addiction meets the definition of addiction, others disagree since computer use is generally positive and does not involve illegal behavior. Contributing factors may include social and situational stresses as well as individual tendencies. Ethically, some views hold individuals responsible for choices while others argue society shares responsibility if it creates hopeless situations for people.

Uploaded by

Ghulam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Social Contract Theory Analysis

• Birthday party held in apartment of one of


Jerry’s friends
• Jerry had a reasonable expectation of
privacy
• Kate violated Jerry’s right to privacy
• Kate’s action was wrong

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Act Utilitarian Analysis

• Benefits
– Popularity of Kate’s blog increased (definitely)
– Jerry become more popular on campus (definitely)
• Harms
– Jerry’s anger at Kate (only temporary)
– Photo could discredit Jerry at some point in future
(unlikely)
• Benefits greater than harms, so Kate did a good
thing
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Rule Utilitarian Analysis

• What if everyone were constantly taking photos of people


they encountered and posting them?
• Positive consequences
– People would have more opportunities to keep up with what their
friends are doing
– People might be more reluctant to engage in illegal activities
• Negative consequences
– People would become more self-conscious
– Some relationships would be harmed
• Negative consequences more weighty than positive
consequences, so Kate’s action was bad
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Virtue Ethics Analysis

• True friends trust each other and seek each other’s good
• Reciprocity and equality are fundamental elements of
friendship
• Lack of reciprocity: Kate took something from Jerry
without giving him anything in return
• Lack of equality: She put her own interest above that of
Jerry
• Kate’s actions did not seem to be characteristic of a good
friend

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Summary

• Four out of five analyses: Wrong for Kate to post


the photo without asking Jerry’s permission
• Kate figured it would be better to beg for
forgiveness than ask for permission, but she cut
Jerry out of a decision that affected both of them,
and that’s no way to treat a friend
• Kate should have tried to get Jerry’s consent

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3.7 Children and Inappropriate
Content

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Web Filters

• Web filter: Software that prevents display


of certain Web pages
– May be installed on an individual PC
– ISP may provide service for customers
• Methodologies
– Maintain “black list” of objectionable sites
– Examine content for objectionable
words/phrases

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Calvin and Hobbes, 1990 / © Universal Press Syndicate

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Child Internet Protection Act

• Libraries receiving federal networking


funds must filter pages containing
obscenity or child pornography
• U.S. Supreme Court ruled CIPA did not
violate 1st Amendment guarantees
(6-3 decision in June 2003)

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Ethical Evaluations of CIPA

• Kantian evaluation: CIPA is wrong


• Act utilitarian evaluation: depends on how
benefits and harms are weighed
• Social contract theory: freedom of
conscience should be given precedence

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Sexting

• Definition: sexually suggestive text messages or


emails with nude or nearly nude photographs
• In a 2009 survey, 9% of U.S. teenagers admitted
to sending a sext, 17% admitted to receiving a
sext
• Case of Jesse Logan
• Case of Phillip Alpert
• Case of Ting-Yi Oei

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3.8 Breaking Trust

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Identity Theft (1/2)

• Identity theft: When a person uses another person’s


electronic identity
• Leading form of identity theft is credit card fraud
• Financial institutions contribute to problem by making it
easy to open new accounts
• About 8 million cases of identity theft in U.S. in 2010
• Consumer’s liability for credit card losses limited to $50

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Identity Theft (2/2)

• Nearly half of cases from lost credit card, checkbook, etc.


• In 20% of cases, credit card number stolen at time of
making purchase (skimmers)
• About 1 million cases of identity theft annually in United
States from online activities
• Phishing: Use of email to attempt to deceive people into
revealing personal information
• Identity theft a federal crime, but only 1 in 700 cases
results in an arrest

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Chat-Room Predators

• Chat room: Supports real-time discussions


among many people connected to network
• Instant messaging and chat rooms
replacing telephone for many people
• Some pedophiles meeting children through
chat rooms
• Police countering with “sting” operations

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Ethical Evaluations of “Stings”

• Utilitarian evaluation
• Kantian evaluation
• Social contract theory evaluation

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False Information

• Quality of Web-based information varies widely


• Other media also have information of varying
quality
– The New York Times v. The National Enquirer
– 60 Minutes v. Conspiracy Theory
• Google attempts to reward quality
– Ranking uses “voting” algorithm
– If many links point to a page, Google search engine
ranks that page higher
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Cyberbullying

• Cyberbullying: Use of the Internet or phone


system to inflict psychological harm
• In a 2009 survey, 10% admitted to
cyberbullying, and 19% said they had been
cyberbullied
• Case of Ghyslain Raza
• Case of Megan Meier
• Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act
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3.9 Internet Addiction

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Is Internet Addiction Real?

• Some liken compulsive computer use to


pathological gambling
• Traditional definition of addiction:
– Compulsive use of harmful substance or drug
– Knowledge of its long-term harm
• Some people spend 40-80 hours/week on
the Internet, with individual sessions
lasting up to 20 hours
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Is Internet Addiction Real?
• Kimberly Young created test for Internet addiction
– Sample question: “Have you repeatedly made
unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet
use?”
– Patients who answer “yes” to at least 5 of 8 questions
may be addicted
• Others disagree, noting
– Computer use is generally considered a positive activity
– Excessive use does not lead to criminal activity
– More accurate to call excessive use a compulsion

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South Koreans in a PC Bang

Kim-Jae Hwan 1-22


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Contributing Factors

• Social factors
– Peer groups
• Situational factors
– Stress
– Lack of social support and intimacy
– Limited opportunities for productive activity
• Individual factors
– Tendency to pursue activities to excess
– Lack of achievement
– Fear of failure
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Ethical Evaluation

• Enlightenment view
– Individuals can and should govern their lives
– People are responsible for their choices
• Jeffrey Reiman’s view
– Addict’s behavior makes sense if addict has
no hope for a better future
– Society bears responsibility for putting people
in hopeless situations
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