The UK’s newspaper watchdog, the PCC, has released the findings of its research into attitudes towards social networking.
It found that 78% would change information they publish about themselves online if they thought the material would later bereproduced in the mainstream media. This is a new ethical issue for journalists, as Facebook and other social networking sites become sources for journalists.
Social networking sites are used by more than 80% of youngsters in the UK. Yet it appears that few think about the personal details they publish online.
The PCC found that only 55% of people think before posting information that it might later be used by journalists or employers without their consent.
The research showed that most web users think there should be clear guidelines about the type of personal information that can be published online. But the press watchdog has shied away from new regulations, preferring instead to rely on self-regulation.
In the words of Christopher Meyer, chairman of the PCC:
In the digital age, self-regulation, with its sound principles and speed of operation, has never been more relevant. That is why I expect our current Code of Practice to be able to handle complaints in this area; and in the process to enable the Commission over the coming months and years to define through its decisions the boundary between the private and the public.
So no new rules, despite concern from the public. However, journalists would have resisted any new regulations and these could have been difficult to enforce.
And the PCC might not be the best body to do this as it has been accused ofcaving in to the interests of the newspaper industry.
But clearly there is a need to reassess journalism ethics in a digital age. The meaning of private and public is increasingly blurred online. Journalists have a responsibility to behave ethically but the challenge is agreeing how this applies to personal data published online but not intended for the mass media.
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