Receipts and Filters: Ethics and Honesty on Social Media

Christy Hamman

ch629717@ohio.edu

source: news.nd.edu

The cliché phrase, "It's not what you know, it's who you know" takes on a new meaning in the wave of social media. Or how about, "Knowledge is power?" Our hundreds of Facebook friends and Twitter's #exposed agree.

Social media is a complicated place where relationships are born and ended while "thetea" overflows. We're screen-deep in a celebrity's breakfast while avoiding an old classmate at the checkout lane. We seek out “verified” celebrity accounts but have applied our favorite series of filters to our own profile photos.

It's harder than ever to finish tasks in order to prove "I'm not a robot."

Among the likes and gossip, we're also looking for news in this confusing social media world.

In December of 2018, Pew Research Center reported that more U.S. adults said they get news from social media than newspapers.

This news is causing concern. In 2016, Pew Research Center reportedthat 23% of Americans--despite claiming good judgement--shared a fake news story. Who's to blame for fake news?

According to the same Pew Research Center survey, the public shouldn't take all the blame. Politicians and social media websites are responsible for keeping fake content at bay.

But if I've posted an airbrushed selfie claiming I "#wokeuplikethis?" 

It's a slippery slope that's been paved with likes and comments in a time where receipts are less the litter on the floor of your passenger seat and more about exposing the powerful. [Urban Dictionary defines receipts as: "Evidence or proof. Often in the form of saved screenshots or snaps."]

In The Elements of Journalism, journalists Kovach and Rosenstiel write that in their quest for ethical news, journalists must exercise their personal conscience, with a high regard for moral values, honesty and diversity in their content. With the creation and use of social media, one might argue that any content publisher (any blogger, Instagram user, or person with a Facebook account) can be a journalist. 

 James Charles | Vanity Fair: https://www.vanityfair.com

YouTuber James Charles (above), who was recently caught in a scandal, shortly after praising his invitation to the Met Gala as an "influencer" might agree. Being an "influencer" isn't all galas and followers. Charles has since created videos where he issued apologies and took responsibility.

Kovach and Rosenstiel write, "Ethics are woven into every element of journalism and every critical decision that journalists make." What is "ethical" on social media for "social media journalists?" Will ethics ever guide every filter or every character of a 140-character-count Tweet?