Facebook has recently been under fire for conducting an experimental study on its users to test the effects of their newsfeed on users’ emotions. It was found that the more positive posts on a user’s newsfeed would result in generally more positive status updates and other posts. According to the Wall Street Journal, approximately 700,000 users were affected in this experiment by researchers from Facebook and Cornell University.
The controversy over the matter arises when the public realizes the gravity of the access to user data that companies like Facebook have. When a company that has 1.3 billion users accessing its services, the potential for that company to affect more people grows exponentially. It is staggering to comprehend the extent that social media has the possibility of controlling what users think and feel. Ethically and socially, it is apparent that there is a gap between how these companies need to proceed in such matters.
However, it is not just Facebook that has been scrutinized by the public for its manipulation of user data. Google was denied by the US Supreme court to appeal its accusation of breaking privacy laws (BBC News). In 2010, it was revealed that Google accidentally gathered personal data from unencrypted wi-fi networks while constructing its Street View program. As we extend our reliance on these types of resources, the dangers of sacrificing our privacy become more of a reality.
As we move forward with advancing technology that brings our globalizing village closer together, we must consider the ethical repercussions. The power of social media is inevitable, but the consequences can be given at the hands of consumers. Next time, be wary of what you “like.”
