Editing 1390: Research Ethics
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|First draft.}} | |
− | + | This comic references the recent revelation that Facebook has been altering the news articles shown to users and recording the users' comments to see what their emotional reactions were. Megan is commenting on the fact that, while the media is calling this control over what content the user sees "unethical," Facebook, and other companies like Google, regularly control their content anyway, if only to tailor ads to particular users. This comic is parodying the strong reaction to what is basically already a common practice. | |
− | Accumulation, control and analysis of user-generated information can be a part of the | + | Accumulation, control and analysis of user-generated information can be a part of the terms of service/end user license agreement of a Website or software. In such a scenario, the user has effectively signed his/her consent to being part of such research. Unfortunately, most users don't read the terms before clicking the "I agree" option, so it can come as a shock when the service uses the data in a way the user hadn't anticipated. |
− | + | Randall writes "what" twice, which is a classic [http://www.moillusions.com/eye-to-brain-coordination/ optical illusion.] | |
− | + | The title text is also a joke, lampooning the fact that while we openly allow Facebook to meddle in our affairs merely by using their service, we deem this "snooping" to be unethical. Similarly, what the text is saying is we have no right to peer into the algorithms that do that snooping because it belongs to Facebook and it wouldn't be fair to them for us to see it. | |
− | + | It is as if your neighbor was spying on you while you left all your shades open, but you felt it to be inappropriate to find out what he knew about you because that's his business. | |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[Megan is facing Cueball and Ponytail | + | |
− | :Megan: Facebook shouldn't choose what stuff they show us to conduct unethical psychological research. | + | :[Megan is facing Cueball and Ponytail] |
+ | :Megan: Facebook shouldn't choose what what stuff they show us to conduct unethical psychological research. | ||
:Megan: They should ''only'' make those decisions based on, uh... | :Megan: They should ''only'' make those decisions based on, uh... | ||
− | :Megan: However they were doing it before. | + | :Megan: However they were doing it before. |
:Megan: Which was probably ethical, right? | :Megan: Which was probably ethical, right? | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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