The Impact of Social Media Algorithms on Media Ethics

Georgia Southern University

COMM 3530: Media Ethics

June 23, 2023

Introduction

The fast spread of social media platforms has fundamentally changed how information is

received and distributed in the current digital era. These platforms make use of

sophisticated algorithms to filter and rank information for users according to their

preferences, actions, and interaction patterns. Although personalising material via social

media algorithms has clearly improved user experiences, there is rising worry about their

effect on media ethics.

Responsible journalism is built upon the values of honesty, fairness, impartiality, and

accountability as they relate to the media. However, concerns regarding social media

algorithms' possible implications on media ethics are raised by their ubiquitous influence.

Algorithms have the capacity to influence public opinion, perpetuate prejudices, and even

aid in the transmission of false information since they decide the exposure and reach of

news stories, views, and information.

This study intends to examine how social media algorithms affect media ethics and provide

light on any possible moral conundrums they may present. A thorough knowledge of the

difficulties presented by algorithmic content curation will be acquired via conducting

interviews with important parties, including journalists, social media platform

representatives, and media ethics specialists. These insights will make it possible to
identify potential hazards, put forward suggestions for minimising ethical difficulties, and

investigate the prospects for encouraging ethical behaviour in the world of digital media.

The results of this study will not only advance academic debates but will also aid social

media platforms, legislators, and media professionals in navigating the tricky waters of

media ethics in the era of algorithmic content curation. It is feasible to foster a media

environment that supports journalistic standards, encourages informed decision-making,

and protects the public's right to accurate and impartial information by being aware of and

addressing the ethical implications of social media algorithms.

The Interviewees:

Journalists: Qualified journalists are essential to media ethics. Their thoughts on the

difficulties they encounter in the digital era and how algorithms affect their reporting and

editing choices would be quite helpful.

Social Media Platform Representatives: Interviews with officials from significant social

media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, will help provide light on the

algorithms' creation, purposes, and possible consequences on media ethics.

Media Ethics Experts: Experts in media ethics may give a deeper grasp of the moral

standards that should govern journalism in the digital age and provide information on

possible dangers and remedies relating to social media algorithms.

Questions:
 a) For journalists:

-How are your editorial choices and news reporting procedures affected by social media

algorithm changes?

--Have you ever faced ethical dilemmas or difficulties because of social media algorithms?

If yes, could you provide some examples?

-Do you think that media bias or the amplification of certain viewpoints has been influenced

by algorithms? Yes, but how?

-What effect do you think social media algorithms are having on the accuracy and

legitimacy of news?

-What steps or adjustments would you suggest making to lessen the ethical problems that

social media algorithms cause?

b) Representatives of the Social Media Platforms:

What criteria do your algorithms utilise to choose and order material for users? What

elements enter the equation?

What moral factors are taken into account while developing and putting into practise social

media algorithms?

Have you examined how your algorithms affect media ethics in research or assessments? If

so, what conclusions were reached?

How do you respond to worries about bias in the media and the resurgence of false

information on your platform?

What efforts, if any, are being done to guarantee accountability and openness with relation

to how your algorithms operate?

c) Media Ethics Professionals

What are the main ethical concerns surrounding the impact of social media algorithms on

media content?

How can media workers deal with the moral dilemmas that automated content selection

presents?

What are some feasible answers or best practises to guarantee that algorithms in the media

environment adhere to moral standards?

To address the ethical implications of social media algorithms, should there be any

legislative or governmental interventions? If so, what ought they to cover?

Scholarly articles:

These scholarly articles provided in the references cover a variety of topics linked to media

ethics, such as the impact of social media on politics, the proliferation of false news,

network science, and ethical problems relating to the use of algorithms in the dissemination

of news.
References

White, C. L., & Boatwright, B. (2020). Social media ethics in the data economy: Issues of

social responsibility for using Facebook for public relations. Public Relations

Review, 46(5), 101980

Dörr, K. N., & Hollnbuchner, K. (2017). Ethical challenges of algorithmic

journalism. Digital journalism, 5(4), 404-419.

Lustig, C., Pine, K., Nardi, B., Irani, L., Lee, M. K., Nafus, D., & Sandvig, C. (2016,

May). Algorithmic authority: the ethics, politics, and economics of algorithms that

interpret, decide, and manage. In Proceedings of the 2016 CHI Conference Extended

Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1057-1062).

Saura, J. R., Palacios-Marqués, D., & Iturricha-Fernández, A. (2021). Ethical design in

social media: Assessing the main performance measurements of user online behavior

modification. Journal of Business Research, 129, 271-281.