Ethics of Digital Technology

Effects of Digital Technology on Citizens

• Digital technologies have advanced rapidly, transforming societies by enhancing connectivity, financial systems, trade, public services, and development.
• They've impacted emotional, social, ethical, and other aspects of human life.
• Digital technologies have both positive and negative effects on citizens.
• These technologies can threaten privacy, erode ethical and cultural values, erode security, and fuel inequality.

Positive Implications of Digital Technology on Emotions

• Digital technology enables people to control, express, and manage their emotions.
• Workers in some jobs can use technology to have less confrontational relations with their managers, reducing emotional aggression.
• Digital communication can foster socialization and beneficial relationships.
• Technology can help maintain emotional balance within families and other social groups.
• Technology promotes happiness and well-being by enabling communication, connection, and engagement in positive social behaviors.

Negative Implications of Digital Technology on Emotions

• Excessive or addictive use of digital technology can lead to negative emotions, such as isolation.
• Comparisons with idealized online personas can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety.
• Digital technology can lead to a sense of detachment from real-life interactions and events.
• Increased risk of anonymity and false personalities online
• Possibility of addiction to social media, gaming, and other digital activities.

Impacts on Social Life

• Digital technology allows for real-time communication and sharing, connecting people across the world.
• It facilitates communication and interactions for education, business, and other activities.
• Increased productivity and greater access to resources.
• In many instances, the digital world blurs the lines between online and off-line activities, and influences behavior.
• Increased reliance on virtual experiences over real-world interactions can lead to social isolation.
• People may experience emotional problems through online interactions and comparisons, especially regarding relationships.

Impacts on Ethical Values

• Digital technology is a powerful tool for critical thinking. It allows for wider access to diverse sources of information.
• The ease of sharing and disseminating information raises ethical implications.
• Technology has allowed people to express hate, and participate in bullying, stalking, or threatening behavior.
• Unethical practices include academic dishonesty, digital piracy, identity theft, and the inducement of negative emotions.
• Digital technology has increased uncertainty about ethical issues through the increased discussion and scrutiny of those issues.

Opportunities for Young Citizens

• Digital technology offers opportunities for information access, connectivity, digital learning, and versatile working.
• It facilitates global connections and collaboration.
• Greater access to learning and development opportunities.

Challenges of Good Governance

• Corruption, rampant in many developing countries, damages the economy, social trust, and undermines development efforts.
• Inability to secure justice; essential resources are not equally distributed amongst the citizens.
• Lack of transparency, as government decision-making processes aren't always clear.
• Lack of empowerment for the common people, who may not have input or influence on crucial issues.
• Inefficient service delivery, leading to inadequacies in education, healthcare, and other basic services.
• Administrative irregularities, due to flaws in the way government offices operate.

Impact of Unethical Use

• Academic dishonesty (copying, cheating, plagiarism) negatively affects academic performance.
• Digital media piracy violates intellectual property rights.
• Identity theft, posing as someone else, jeopardizes personal information safety.
• Unfriendly or revenge sex, via technology, can damage personal relationships.