#thinkbeforeyoupost

By Luis Eduardo Galindez Garcia  

Trends in Social Media Ethics 

A growing trend in social media ethics is the emphasis on transparency and authenticity. Platforms are cracking down on misinformation, fake news, and AI-generated content. Users are demanding more accountability from influencers and companies regarding what they post and how they handle user data. 

Current Cases Related to Social Media Ethics 

One major case was the backlash against TikTok influencers promoting weight-loss products without disclosures. Another was the Meta whistleblower case, where internal documents revealed Facebook’s awareness of Instagram’s harmful effects on teen mental health. These cases highlight the urgent need for stronger ethical standards. 

Organization Code of Ethics 

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has a clear code of ethics that emphasizes honesty, advocacy, fairness, and accountability. I would be interested in joining an organization like this because it aligns with my belief that social media should be used to build trust and serve the public good. 

Brands with Strong Social Media Ethics

Patagonia is a good example of ethical social media use. They use their platforms to advocate for environmental protection, always disclose sponsorships, and don’t manipulate their audience with false urgency or unrealistic lifestyles. 

Professionals Who Model Ethical Behavior

One example is Dr. Julie Smith, a psychologist who uses Instagram and TikTok to share evidence-based mental health tips. She never sells false hope or miracle cures. Another is Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), who gives honest tech reviews without misleading sponsorships. 

Takeaways for Your Own Practice

I’ve learned that it’s important to always be transparent about who I am and what I’m promoting. I want to avoid sharing misleading content and make sure I give credit when using someone else’s work or ideas. Being respectful in comments and avoiding hate speech are also key takeaways. 

Important Concepts to Follow 

- Honesty: Tell the truth about products, experiences, and affiliations.  - Privacy: Protect people’s personal information.  - Consent: Always ask before posting about others.  - Transparency: Disclose sponsorships and paid ads.  - Accountability: Admit mistakes and correct them publicly.  - Respect: Avoid hate speech, bullying, and disrespect.  - Accuracy: Share only verified and credible information.  - Authenticity: Be real, not just performative.  - Inclusion: Promote diverse voices and viewpoints.  - Responsibility: Understand the influence you have. 

Unethical Practices to Avoid 

Practices I strongly disagree with include buying fake followers, spreading disinformation, using clickbait to mislead people, cyberbullying, and promoting unrealistic body standards. These behaviors are harmful because they damage trust, harm mental health, and manipulate audiences. 

Core Concepts You Will Follow 

The internet erupted in fury after an American influencer was caught on video taking a baby wombat from its mother on a dark Australian road. Sam Jones, who has over 96,000 Instagram followers, became the center of international controversy when footage of the incident, aired by local news outlet 10 News First, showed her running off with the animal as its desperate mother chased behind. The heartbreaking scene sparked a wave of condemnation, with many calling her actions reckless and irresponsible.

Jones was scheduled to address the controversy on Australia's Channel 10 talk series The Project on March 16, but she canceled at the last minute. Instead, host Hamish Macdonald read from her latest Instagram statement, in which she expressed regret over what she called “an incredible mistake.” But rather than focusing solely on an apology, Jones quickly pivoted to a broader issue—government-sanctioned wildlife culling.

“There's something much bigger at play here, and it would be a disservice to ignore it,” she said in a video message. “If this situation has proven anything, it’s that Australians care deeply about their wildlife, and that is something I intensely admire.” She went on to accuse the Australian government of issuing permits for the widespread killing of wombats and kangaroos, claiming that thousands are slaughtered annually.

Directing viewers to her X account, —currently restricted on the platform—Jones alleged she had posted “never-before-seen photos” of mass culling operations. She concluded her statement by calling out what she saw as hypocrisy: “The same government that is calling for my head is the one that spends millions of your tax dollars to mass slaughter native Australian animals, as well as the Snowy River and Kosciuszko brumbies, wild pigs, and numerous deer species.”

While some agreed with her criticism of government policies, many saw her attempt at deflection as tone-deaf. The initial outrage wasn’t just about wildlife conservation—it was about the influencer culture itself. The backlash against Jones wasn't only driven by a love for Australia’s native animals, but by a growing frustration with social media personalities who post reckless, attention-seeking content without regard for consequences.

Viewers weren’t just angry about the baby wombat; they were tired of influencers treating real-world experiences like viral challenges. Many saw Jones’ actions as emblematic of a broader problem—content creators pushing boundaries for engagement, often at the expense of ethics and common sense.

To be a digital citizen the one who knows what is right and what is wrong, it help us to understand what all technology users should know to use the technology in an appropriately and responsibly.

Always remember: T.A.P 1.Think before you click/ post 2.Avoid sharing your personal identity 3.Protect your privacy

How can you observe social, ethical and legal responsibilities in the use of technology tools and resources? I can observe social , ethical and legal responsibilities in the use of technology tools and resources by reading the books about the technology on how to use in an appropriately and responsibly. Read about the guidelines , rules and regulations in order to be aware. Bew mindful all your doings in using technology.

Bullying is one of the most common issues today worldwide. Many forms of bullying are happening especially in the field of LGBTQQ++, they experience different insults or bullying. Cyber bullying, is one of the many forms of bullying that uses internet to insult people or post something online that can harm other people or that can give people a bad reputation that you post about him/her. Against cyber bullying is our advocacy to plan to publish, in order to help people avoid doing such things and also to avoid people to be a victim of this kind of bullying. We were planning to give such platforms or steps to be more aware and to secure themselves about cyber bullying. If you are one of the many people who is a victim of cyber bullying, report it so that the bully  gets a penalty for doing such things. If you were the one who committed cyber crime, please do stop and be sensitive towards other people if what they are feeling if you did those actions against them. Is it fun to do it? Destroying someone’s reputations publicly and posting something about him/her that can downgrade his/her confidence or other negative effects to them, can that bring you happiness? 

Check your #memes: Einstein never said the ‘insanity’ #quote. #ThinkBeforeYouPost

  Fake news everywhere!

  They have even infiltrated memes.

  While memes are openly persiflage also here errors manage to sneak in.

  Especially when it comes to quotes a quick check-up is recommended.

  “Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results” is by, err, who said it?

  Turns out, that insanity quote “Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over…