MEDIA AND

INFORMATION
LITERACY
Course Material No. 6

Mr. Edlord O. Malabanan

Subject Teacher
 MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 2

Legal, Ethical and Societal

Issues in Media and Information
Literacy: Digital Divide and Virtual
Self
WHAT WILL YOU
LEARN? FOCUS QUESTIONS

This course material is designed to

help you: 1. What are the legal, ethical, and societal issues that
arise in media and information literacy?
• discuss actions to promote
ethical use of media and 2. What are some of the safeguards against potential
information conflicts arising from these issues?

• demonstrate proper
conduct and behavior 3. How do we navigate the often-gray areas between
online these issues and demonstrate ethics as smart users
of media?
• put into practice your
understanding of the
intellectual property,
copyright, and fair use
guidelines RESOURCES NEEDED

PERFORMANCE STANDARD For this lesson, you would need the following resources:

• Media and Information Languages PPT

The learner demonstrates
understanding of media and • Links to websites
information literacy (MIL) and MIL
• Reference materials, tools, and equipment
related concepts.

CONTENT STANDARD

The learner organizes a creative

and interactive symposium for the
community focusing on being a
media and information literate
individual.
MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

5 Digital Divide

7 Virtual Self

8 Internet and Computer

Addiction

9 Vulnerability to Online
Crimes
https://www.artandobject.com/news/brief-history-emojis

Netiquette
10
The figure above shows example of
13 Learning Activity: Who
Run the World?
EMOTICONS OR EMOJIS. Emojis originated

from Japan. They are part of a feature when

sending an electronic message. Moji in Nihonggo

14 Try a Case

(Japanese language) means “character”.

15 Key Terms

Emojis or emoticons are smileys, which

represent an emotion or idea. Some people express 16 References

their message through an emoji instead of verbally

stating the message.

MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 4

https://www.iotworldtoday.com/2020/01/28/line-between-consumer-wellness-and-traditional-medicine-blurs-further/

As with practically anything on earth, MIL also abounds with legal, ethical, and societal

issues that, if anything, has only gotten more complicated as we navigate this new normal. Case in

point, our synchronous sessions are always recorded to facilitate easy review and instruction

during the asynchronous sessions, yet it also raises the question of proper use of such videos.

Consent to being recorded, consent to the video being shared, and the general topic of consent in

general is a prickly issue that must always be managed with tact and sensitivity.

We will now fully discuss what constitutes plagiarism in academic works as well

as knowing certain netiquette to protect your virtual self. These issues also feed into topics

such as digital divide, internet addiction, and cyberbullying.

MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 5

Digital Divide

Even if we live in the digital Age, there are still

parts of the world that do not have access to the Internet
because it is either in a remote area or in extreme
poverty. Digital divide refers to the economic,
educational, and social inequalities experienced by
those who cannot afford to have computer and Internet
access.

In the Philippines, we do not experience restriction

when it comes to acquiring information and choosing
the mode of communication we want. We can
communicate with other people through calls, e-mails,
text, video conferences, and even online chatting. Our
country, however, has one of the slowest Internet
connection compared to its other Asian counterparts
due to the limited Internet Service Providers (ISP) in
our country.

As we live in the 21st century, having information

and technology skills is necessary. Therefore, digital
divide could hinder a person to become information,
media, and technology literate. In simple words, Digital
divide is the gap between the people who have internet
access and to the people who does not have internet
access.
MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 6

https://businesscircle.com.my/mobile-technology-to-bridge-east-malaysian-digital-

gap/

Since the cities hold more promising opportunities, they choose to devote
their resources to their digital services in urban areas. Advancements like
LTE coverage all fiber optics are available mostly in commercial districts
only while small towns in rural areas still struggle with the basic 3G
connection.

According to Aleph Molinari, there are three main factors why the Digital Divide
happens:

Lack of access due to affordability

Lack of knowledge on how to use the technology

Lack of knowledge of the benefits of the technology.

MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 7

Virtual Self

What do you imagine when you are

asked to visualize about your virtual self?

When we say something is virtual, it means

that it only exist in virtual reality. However,

something virtual can resemble and

simulate a physical aspect or component.

https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/how-to/what-is-facebook-
avatar-and-how-to-create-this-avatar/articleshow/76771068.cms

Virtual self pertains to one’s representation in the virtual world, which exists
online and is only available once a person is connected to the Internet.
MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 8

In the modern times, more people are being inclined in using social media such as

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. They tend to neglect their responsibilities and more

important needs due to their obsession with such social networking sites. This habit can

result to various consequences like computer addiction and vulnerability to online crimes.

Internet and Computer Addiction

https://wyredproject.eu/2019/03/01/digital-addiction/

Addiction is defined as an overdependence on something or a damaging need to do

something. While it is commonly associated with substances like recreational drugs, the digital

age has now ushered an addiction that is gradually raising concerns in industries and society as a

whole.

Digital addiction is the lack of ability to control your crave in using digital-age technology

like computers and smartphones. You can felt perturbation when you are far from your

smartphone it is like you cannot live without those gadgets and it can sway your daily work or

routine in your life.

Treatments for those who have become computer addicts depends upon the person’s

willingness to receive help. They need understanding and support so that they can overcome the

addiction and eventually get back to their old self.

MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 9

Vulnerability to Online Crimes

Cyberbullying, or bullying through electronic means, is one

of the many problems brought about by advancements in

technology. With the existence smartphones, tablets,

laptops, and 24/7 access to internet, cyberbullying can

happen to anyone, anywhere, and at any time. This may

involve exposing embarrassing content about someone or

sending messages with the intention of hurting the receiver https://www.istockphoto.com/illustrations/cyber-

bullying

emotionally or mentally.

Cyber bullying can include:

▪ Abusive or hurtful texts

emails or posts, images

or videos

▪ Deliberately excluding

others online

▪ Nasty gossip or rumors

▪ Imitating others online

or using their log-in

https://caclapeer.org/bullying-awareness-month-october-2019/
MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 10

Netiquette

Netiquette is a portmanteau or mixture of the words “internet” and “etiquette”, and is

generally defined as a set of conventions facilitated and implemented in various online

networks. Just as you would have table manners, theater house rules, and debate decorum, the

rampant use of online fora, text messaging, e-mail, and social media platforms have led scholars

and internet advocates to compose certain etiquette that users of the internet must subject

themselves to maintain a good, and respectful environment of sharing and distributing

information in the World Wide Web.

Some of the general netiquette that we commonly practice have been condensed in

the table below:

DO…
Secure your privacy.
- This is one of the most highly ignored
conventions regarding netiquette. Always
change your password on all online accounts
every now and then. It is recommended by
IT experts that you change your passwords
every 90 days.
DON’T…
Talk in straight uppercase letters (i.e. all
caps).
- Writing your messages on the internet in all
caps is the online equivalent of shouting and
yelling. And even if your intention with using
uppercase letters is to gain attention, it does
not work that way, not to mention that words
consistently written in uppercase is also a pain
to read.
MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA
Respect a netizen as you would a “real”
one.
- Remember, writing is more permanent than
speech and does not contain nonverbal cues.
Being polite and courteous to people you
communicate with on the internet will never
scratch your ego.
DO…
Wait for your turn, otherwise,
excuse yourself during arguments.
- Especially when you are engaging with
multiple persons online, as much as
possible, speak only when you are
addressed directly. Avoid barging in a
conversation of two other persons as this
will give them an impression of you being
an attention seeker.
11
Share critical personal information.
- Unless you want to follow the philanthropical
footsteps of Willie Revillame and Oprah
Winfrey, NEVER share any of the following
critical information regarding you and your
person:
-- full name
-- credit/debit card numbers
-- birthdate
-- present address
-- present school (for students); present
workplace (for professionals)
-- similar information regarding your
parents/guardians, siblings, and other relatives
This information can be potentially used for
identity theft, as well as credit card scams.
DON’T…
Record/Take a screenshot of your
conversations without the consent of
the other party/ies.
- This is a blatant violation of other people’s
internet freedom. A lot of incidents
regarding identity theft (e.g. duplicate
social media accounts), and cyberbullying
(e.g. taking a candid screenshot of your
friend and posting it online for others to
make fun of) root from this violation of
netiquette. If you don’t want your own face
to end up as the next trending meme, don’t
do the same to your friends, family, and
others.
MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 12

Much has been said regarding netiquette, but to sum it all up, just take note of this Latin

phrase: Memento publicum. Remember that you are in public. What you say, and how you present

yourself online is regarded nowadays as constitutions of your digital self. We must be careful with

how we present ourselves digitally because others may take it as being one with our personal, true

selves.

https://thesaurus.plus/synonyms/netiquette
MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 13

LEARNING ACTIVITY
WHO RUN THE INTERNET WORLD?

Internet cafés are also sites of good and bad manifestations of netiquette, and most of them actually have

house rules which patrons must follow at the risk of having a PC monitor locked and then being approached by

the owner and told to step out of their premises, sometimes, for good.

The question is: if you are an owner of an internet café, what are the rules that you will implement regarding:

a. discipline of patrons, i.e. customers, the people who rent your PC units, and

b. communicating with other patrons, and other people on the internet?

Your objective is to create your set of internet café decorum of about 5-10 guidelines. If you, or a relative of

yours, happen to be an owner of an internet café already implementing a set of rules and regulations, you can

use those rules, and add some more, in accordance with what you have learned in the lesson.
MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 14

PERFORMANCE TASK 3
Try a Case
Construct a Case Analysis on one of the different Legal, Ethical, and Societal Issues in Media and
Information:

Case 1: Copyright
Case 2: Plagiarism
Case 3: Cyber Bullying
Case 4: Computer Addiction
Case 5: Digital Divide

Instructions:
1. Read and Examine your chosen Case Thoroughly
▪ Take notes, highlight relevant facts, underline key problems.
2. Focus Your Analysis
▪ Identify two to five key problems.
▪ Why do they exist?
▪ How do they impact the organization?
▪ Who is responsible for them?
3. Uncover Possible Solutions/Changes Needed
▪ Review course readings, discussions, outside research, your experience.
4. Select the Best Solution
▪ Consider strong supporting evidence, pros, and cons. Is this solution realistic?

Drafting the Case

Once you have gathered the necessary information, a draft of your analysis should include these general
sections:

✓ Introduction
✓ Background
✓ Evaluation of the Case
✓ Proposed Solution/Changes
✓ Recommendations

Note: A case study analysis is a form of academic writing which analyses a situation, event, place or
person to form a conclusion. While the guidelines and template contain much detail, your finished case
study should be only 300 to 500 words in length.

Reference: https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/writing-case-study-analysis
MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 15

LESSON
SUMMARY

1
Some of these issues include copyright, fair use, and plagiarism, which pertain to the
issue of one’s intellectual property. Netiquette is also one ethical and societal issue
that needs to be increasingly defined.

2
There should be no excuse for netizens to misbehave on social media. Although the
Internet is technically a virtual world, users are still expected to follow the rules
accordingly and become law-abiding citizens.

3
These often-gray areas are called just that because they are nuanced and
complicated. However, we must try to be ethical to all parties involved and
exercise universal values such as integrity and respect for privacy.

KEY
TERMS

Academic dishonesty Copyright Fair use Intellectual property

Misattribution plagiarism Mosaic plagiarism Netiquette Plagiarism

Public domain Self-plagiarism Verbatim plagiarism Virtual self

MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 16

REFERENCES

Copyright Alliance. (n.d.). Copyright basics. Retrieved from Copyright Alliance:

https://copyrightalliance.org/ca_faq_post/parody-considered-fair-use-satire-
isnt/#:~:text=By%20definition%2C%20a%20parody%20is,an%20imitation%20of%20the
%20work.&text=Therefore%2C%20parodies%20use%20copyrighted%20works,Court%2
0explained%20in%20Campbell%20v
Creative Commons USA. (2018, July 18). What is the difference between fair use and CC?
Retrieved from Creative Commons USA:
https://creativecommonsusa.org/index.php/ufaqs/what-is-the-difference-between-fair-
use-and-cc/
Harvard University. (2011). Common Types of Plagiarism. Retrieved from Projects at Harvard
Creative Writing Workshop:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&
ved=2ahUKEwiektPWwZ_rAhUjyosBHdQFAGgQFjABegQIChAD&url=http%3A%2F%2F
projects.iq.harvard.edu%2Ffiles%2Fdistanceed-development-event%2Ffiles%2F2014-
handouts-1-5plagiarism-4plagiari
Guest. (n.d.). Digital divide, addiction and bullying. pdfcoffee.com. Retrieved September 24,
2021, from https://pdfcoffee.com/digital-divide-addiction-and-bullying-pdf-free.html.
Magpile, C. M. (2016). Media and Information Literacy. The Intelligence Publishing, Inc. .
Media and information literacy - the digital divide, addiction, and bullying. Google Sites. (n.d.).
Retrieved September 24, 2021, from
https://sites.google.com/view/elearningmil/lessons/the-legal-ethical-and-societal-issues-
in-media-and-information/the-digital-divide-addiction-and-bullying.
Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. (1997, June 6). Republic Act No. 8293.
Retrieved from Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines:
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1997/06/06/republic-act-no-8293/
Stony Brook University. (2020). Copyright, Fair Use, and the Creative Commons. Retrieved from
Stony Brook University - Libraries:
https://guides.library.stonybrook.edu/copyright#:~:text=Creative%20Commons%20is%20
a%20nonprofit,on%20conditions%20of%20your%20choice.
vBulletin. (2020). What is an Community Bulletin Board? Retrieved from VBulletin Forums:
https://forum.vbulletin.com/help?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_forums_threads_posts
World Intellectual Property Organization. (2016). Understanding Intellectual Property. Retrieved
from World Intellectual Property Organiation:
https://www.wipo.int/publications/en/details.jsp?id=4080
MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY • NU LAGUNA 17

CONTRIBUTORS

Maryan Joy C. Lopez

Charlotte Jessica B. Mabait

Edlord O. Malabanan

Jaycel Anne B. Panday