ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY

MORAL AND CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION (MCED 1011)

Individual assignment

By: Misrak Tena

UGR/8521/16

Submitted To: Dr. Haileyesus

Submission Date: June 11, 2024 G.C

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Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3

The opportunities of using social media......................................................................................................4

The challenges of using social media...........................................................................................................4

What can be done to overcome the challenges?........................................................................................5

Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................6

References...................................................................................................................................................6

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 What are the current challenges and opportunities of social
media usage in relation to moral and ethical issues?
Introduction
Social Media refers to web-based and mobile applications that allow users to create and share
content, interact with others, and form virtual communities. It encompasses various platforms
that enable users to:

 Create and Share Content

 Interact with Others
 Build Virtual Communities
 Discover and Consume Content
 Share News and Information

Examples of Social Media include

 Facebook, Instagram, twitter, TikTok, YouTube etc.

Current Social Media Usage

As studies that are made in 2023 show:

 There are approximately 4.74 billion social media users worldwide.

 The average daily time spent on social media is around 2 hours and 27 minutes.
 Facebook remains the most popular social media platform globally, with over 2.9 billion
monthly active users.
 TikTok has experienced rapid growth, becoming one of the most downloaded and used
social media apps, especially among younger users.
 Social media advertising spending is projected to reach $226 billion in 2023.

What is the importance of discussing about this issue?

 It creates an awareness about the negative impacts of inappropriate social media usage.
 It teaches users how to use social media in responsible and ethical way.
 It helps to understand the opportunities of using a social media and empower
individuals to use it in a positive way.

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The opportunities of using social media
Social media give many opportunities for individuals, businesses and organizations. Some of its
importance include:

 Social media platforms are an important way to reach a large audience and to be seen
by many individuals. By creating a good content we can promote our brand and attract
new customers.
 Social media also plays an important role in building a socially responsible, open minded
and positive thinker community.
 They can be used as a tool for educational purposes. Many educational institutions use a
social media as a way of creating an interactive teaching learning environment.
 It is a powerful tool for creating an awareness about social issues and to motivate them
for a change.
 Helps an individual to get a support for a problem from someone who was affected by
the same problem. It creates an opportunity to share experience with each other.
 To get tips about health issues. Health professionals use the platform to share tips about
healthcare like first aid and the like
 Social Medias can also be used for an entertainment and leisure. We can get many
funny videos, music, movies, books and other forms of entertainment which can be
helpful to refresh our mind.
 They create an opportunity to discuss about moral and ethical topics.
 Social Medias can be used to promote positive behavior and ethical practices like
kindness, empathy, and other social responsibilities.
 Social Medias can be used to make individuals or organizations accountable for their
actions. It expose wrong action and promote transparency.

The challenges of using social media

While social media offers many opportunities to address moral and ethical issues, it also
presents several challenges that can complicate efforts to promote ethical behavior and values.
Some of the challenges include:

 It creates an opportunity to share misinformation and fake news. False information can
spread rapidly leading to confusion and manipulation of public opinion on moral and
ethical issues.
 It may create a way for cyberbullying and online harassment. Individuals may face
harassment, discrimination and threats on their beliefs and attitudes which leads to the
breakdown of ethical standards.

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  Social media platforms collect a lot of personal information from the users which raise
an ethical question about privacy and data protection.
 It can be manipulated by some people to spread disinformation, influence public
opinion, and undermine trust in institutions.
 Access to a social media is not universal, which leads to digital divide that exclude
individuals which have no access for using a social media.
 It may expose individuals to harmful contents that promote violence, intolerance and
other similar negative things.

What can be done to overcome the challenges?

 Creating an awareness or educating
 The government can collaborate with the social media platforms
 Seeking professional help
 Creating an environment for open communication
 Promoting positive content
 Developing critical thinking skill
 Setting boundaries like setting a time limit
 The government should implement regulations on issues like online harassment

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 Conclusion
Social Medias are platforms that help an individual to create and share contents. They have
many positive sides like advertisement, education, community building, personal development
etc. It also have a negative side which include misinformation and fake news, online
harassment and cyberbullying etc. Overcoming the negative effects needs the collaboration of
the government and each individual. It can be combated using techniques like creating
awareness, promoting positive content etc.

References
www.globalfilmcrew.com

circlebizz.com

www.aktek.io

www.wmgagency.co.uk