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- QUESTION
Fake News
When we hear the phrase “fake news” we often think of politicians and the media. However, businesses also perpetuate fake news, often unwittingly. LeanSpa, an internet retail business that sold purported weight loss products under various brand names, hired LeadClick to provide online advertising through its affiliate network. Toward that end, certain LeadClick affiliates used fake news sites to market LeanSpa products. These fake news sites looked like genuine news sites in that they had logos styled to look like news sites, and they included pictures of supposed reporters next to their articles. The articles generally represented that a reporter had performed independent tests that demonstrated the efficacy of the weight loss products. The websites also frequently included a Consumer Comment section, where purported consumers praised the products. There were no consumers commenting, however, since this content was invented. See this module’s assigned textbook reading for a synopsis of the LeadClick case.
Based on this case, the module resources, and your own experience, answer these questions:Who has or should have primary responsibility for managing fake news and its consequences (i.e., social media companies, advertising companies, business, everyday citizens, government authorities, or others)? Why?
Is it unethical for a company to allow its ads to run on a controversial website—such as one that is promoting untested scientific data or one that includes what is commonly accepted as hate speech—even if doing so generates significant revenue for the company? Explain your position.
| Subject | Business | Pages | 3 | Style | APA |
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Answer
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Fake News
Digital platforms – social media – have been adopted as a communication space or channel, since it reaches a wide range of the population in the world. However, despite its advantages – that attracts all sorts of companies including business and advertisement – social media has become a platform of misinformation and disinformation in the recent past. This has developed into the spreading of fake news worldwide. For instance, businesses might end up being a victim of fake new either wittingly or unwittingly. As such, to ensure ethical social media engagements, social media companies should be responsible for managing fake news and its resultant consequences. This paper, therefore, explains why social media companies should primarily be responsible for managing fake news. Consequently, it elucidates that it is unethical for a company to advertise on a controversial website.
Social media companies should take sole responsibility in managing any fake news that might result from their website. Subsequently, these companies should be taking full responsibility for any consequences that might result from any fake news from their websites. The responsibility is based on the fact that social media companies have the mandate to choose which information to publish on their website and which ones to be rejected based on their suitability. Additionally, the companies have various editors who should ensure that all the information and data provided are verified before posting. Therefore, in the case of fake news, they should be solely responsible for the fake news and any consequence that might result from the news.
Consequently, it is completely unethical for any company to run their advertisement on a controversial website, which is known for perpetuating the culture of spreading fake news. For instance, it is immoral to promote or publish any information that is against moral, social, and behavioral principles in a society. Additionally, a company that advertises on any controversial website might be promoting activities or organizations that might be harmful to society.
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