An example in social media is internet violence. Most people cite common shaming as upholding justice but are remiss in forgetting the psychological as well as emotional harm inflicted on the target. By focusing on the enjoyment of calling someone out at any cost while forgetting the long-term impact on the target's well-being, users forget the harm that their actions may result in eventually

The Wikipedia article on Twitter (November 2023 variant) offers useful background on the platform's shifting role in public discourse. But Twitter's policy shifts since Elon Musk's takeover, such as changes in content moderation, as well as the implementation of paid verification. These developments provoked concerns regarding misinformation, platform responsibility, as well as spreading negative content.

Tech developers bear a strong responsibility to think about the moral impact of what they are creating, because their work can affect the lives of millions. Technology is never value-free—it mirrors the values of the creators. From algorithms to data capture, small choices can result in profound outcomes such as bias, exclusion, or harm. Ethical consideration needs to be embedded at every step of development and not made optional. Developers need to question critically who gains, who is harmed, and what long-term consequences are likely to stem. At its heart, responsible technology means putting human well-being ahead of speed, convenience, or profit.

I hear the phrase "social media isn't real life" quite often, especially when people are attempting to dismiss online squabbles or faked posts. I truly believe, however, that social media is real life—it reflects real emotion, relationships, and relations of power, though the manner in which it does so may be filtered or exaggerated. Stuff that occurs on social media can have very real off-platform effects, whether it's disinformation, cyberbullying, or social movements. Rather than compartmentalizing the two, I think it's more accurate to see social media as an extension of real life, where ethical considerations apply.

This mode of thought brings to mind Confucian ethics, where ethical development is rooted in everyday activity and relations between people and not abstractions. I find it interesting that this structure emphasizes social harmony and ritual as ways of creating ethical behavior, as compared to Western ethical theories, which emphasize rights or results. In social media, though, I wonder how these values of respect, sincerity, and ritual would actually shape more thoughtful and less hostile online interactions.