You hold a responsible position in a ministry in the government One day in the morning you received a call from the school of your 11-year-old son that you are required to come and meet the Principal. You proceed to the school and find your son in the Principal’s office. The Principal informs you that your son had been found wandering aimlessly in the grounds during the time classes were in progress. The class teacher further informs you that your son has lately become a loner and did not respond to questions in the class, he had also been unable to perform well in the football trials held recently. You bring your son back from the school and in the evening, you along with your wife try to find out the reasons for your son’s changed behaviour. After repeated cajoling, your son shares that some children had been making fun of him in the class as well as in the WhatsApp group of the students by calling him stunted, duh and a frog. He tells you the names of a few children who are the main culprits but pleads with you to let the matter rest. After a few days, during a sporting event, where you and your wife have gone to watch your son play, one of your colleague’s sons shows you a video in which students have caricatured your son. Further, he also points out to the perpetrators who were sitting in the stands. You purposefully walk past them with your son and go home. Next day, you find on social media, a video denigrating you, your son and even your wife, stating that you engaged in physical bullying of children on the sports field. The video became viral on social media. Your friends and colleagues began calling you to find out the details. One of your juniors advised you to make a counter video giving the background and explaining that nothing had happened on the field. You, in turn posted a video which you have captured during the sporting event, identifying the likely perpetrators who were responsible for your son’s predicament. You have also narrated what has actually happened in the field and made attempts to bring out the adverse effects of the misuse of social media.
(a) Based on the above case study, discuss the ethical issues involved in the use of social media.
(b) Discuss the pros and cons of using social media by you to put across the facts to counter the fake propaganda against your family
You hold a responsible position in a ministry in the government One day in the morning you received a call from the school of your 11-year-old son that you are required to come and meet the Principal. You proceed to the school and find your son in the Principal’s office. The Principal informs you that your son had been found wandering aimlessly in the grounds during the time classes were in progress. The class teacher further informs you that your son has lately become a loner and did not respond to questions in the class, he had also been unable to perform well in the football trials held recently. You bring your son back from the school and in the evening, you along with your wife try to find out the reasons for your son’s changed behaviour. After repeated cajoling, your son shares that some children had been making fun of him in the class as well as in the WhatsApp group of the students by calling him stunted, duh and a frog. He tells you the names of a few children who are the main culprits but pleads with you to let the matter rest. After a few days, during a sporting event, where you and your wife have gone to watch your son play, one of your colleague’s sons shows you a video in which students have caricatured your son. Further, he also points out to the perpetrators who were sitting in the stands. You purposefully walk past them with your son and go home. Next day, you find on social media, a video denigrating you, your son and even your wife, stating that you engaged in physical bullying of children on the sports field. The video became viral on social media. Your friends and colleagues began calling you to find out the details. One of your juniors advised you to make a counter video giving the background and explaining that nothing had happened on the field. You, in turn posted a video which you have captured during the sporting event, identifying the likely perpetrators who were responsible for your son’s predicament. You have also narrated what has actually happened in the field and made attempts to bring out the adverse effects of the misuse of social media.
(a) Based on the above case study, discuss the ethical issues involved in the use of social media.
(b) Discuss the pros and cons of using social media by you to put across the facts to counter the fake propaganda against your family
In today’s digital age, social media has become a powerful tool for communication but also a platform prone to misuse.
The case highlights how online spaces can be weaponized to harass, defame, and spread misinformation, especially involving vulnerable individuals like children. It also raises critical ethical questions around privacy, truth, and responsible digital conduct.
Stakeholder Identification
Stakeholders in the case
(a) Ethical issues involved in the use of social media:
-
Cyberbullying and Harassment:
- The children involved misused social media to ridicule and harass a minor by creating and sharing derogatory content.
- This is a clear violation of digital civility and a breach of a child's right to dignity and privacy.
- Example: In India, cases like the Bois Locker Room chat group revealed how students misused online platforms for bullying and objectification.
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Defamation and Fake Propaganda:
- Spreading false information that accused you and your family of physical bullying is defamatory.
- This violates the principles of truthfulness, fairness, and harm minimization that guide ethical media conduct.
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Violation of Privacy:
- Videos were circulated without consent, violating the privacy of your child and family.
- Ethical use of social media mandates informed consent before publishing personal content, especially of minors.
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Lack of Accountability:
- The anonymity and virality of social media embolden individuals to spread hate without fearing consequences.
- Ethical issue arises when platforms fail to curb this misuse.
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Peer Pressure and Emotional Impact:
- Social media misuse adversely impacted the child’s mental health, academic performance, and social well-being.
- It reflects a lack of empathy and responsibility in digital interactions.
(b) Pros and Cons of using social media to counter fake propaganda:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Social media provides a platform to clarify misinformation and protect your and your family's dignity in the public domain | Posting counter videos, even with good intent, could unintentionally further expose your child to public scrutiny and trolling |
| By exposing the incident respectfully, it educates others about cyberbullying and misuse of digital platforms, promoting ethical digital behavior | Engaging on social media could trigger retaliatory trolling or memes, leading to more online abuse and psychological harm |
| Sharing the original footage maintains transparency and helps others trust your version of events over unverified claims | Being a public servant, your post could be politicized or interpreted as misuse of position for personal matters |
| It empowers victims of online abuse by showing that silence is not the only option and that responsible counter-narratives are possible | Identifying minors or their actions publicly could invite legal concerns, especially under Juvenile Justice Act and IT Rules governing minors’ digital rights |
While social media can be a powerful tool to counter misinformation and promote truth, its use must be measured, respectful, and ethically guided.
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