Alfreda Dudley

Teaching about the impacts of social networks: an end of life perspective

As the use of various social networking technologies increase, so does the importance of understanding the long term implications for users in the context of end of life. Users post many digital artifacts online for many reasons, such as for storage, construction of their digital identity, communication, etc. Often these posts and uploads inadvertently build the digital legacy of the user. In this paper, we discuss the impacts of social networking and the construction of an online identity from an end of life perspective. The authors discuss the importance of education as an essential element for preparation and understanding of this topic. A survey of college social network users is also reported along with a discussion on their feedback.

Investigating Cyber Law and Cyber Ethics: Issues, Impacts and Practices

Ethical values in computing are essential for understanding and maintaining the relationship between computing professionals and researchers and the users of their applications and programs. While concerns about cyber ethics and cyber law are constantly changing as technology changes, the intersections of cyber ethics and cyber law are still underexplored.Investigating Cyber Law and Cyber Ethics: Issues, Impacts and Practices discusses the impact of cyber ethics and cyber law on information technologies and society. Featuring current research, theoretical frameworks, and case studies, the book will highlight the ethical and legal practices used in computing technologies, increase the effectiveness of computing students and professionals in applying ethical values and legal statues, and provide insight on ethical and legal discussions of real-world applications.

Memorializing the Deceased Using Virtual Worlds: A Preliminary Study

Virtual worlds, for many users represent a very real space that intersects with aspects of real life. Time spent in these online environments represent extensions to everyday life, including our expressions and connections to other users. As these spaces become even more entwined into our way of life, there will be an increase of expressions being played-out in these environments. The focus of this paper addresses how memorials used for expression and remembrance of the deceased are represented in cyberspace. Several questions are posed concerning how virtual worlds can be used in this way along with a presentation of information collected from a preliminary survey. Our survey concentrates on user perceptions of various aspects of virtual world memorials.

Examining the Legal Consequences of Improper Use of Social Media Sites in the Workplace

Social media has made radical and revolutionary changes; from the previous evolution of email and instant messaging to newer forms of communications (i.e., Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.). These changes have had a tremendous amount of influence on the way people function and behave. The advanced elements contained within social media have expanded the social constructs of society (i.e., businesses, etc.) in virtual horizons. Boyd and Ellison define a web-based social networking site as a service that allows users to: “(1) Construct a public or semi-public profile with a bounded system; (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection; and, (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system” [3, p. 211]. This paper will examine the legal consequences on the impact of social networking technologies use in employment. Focusing primarily on the following question: Are there any legal recourses from an employer/employee perspective if they are victims of improper or inappropriate use of social media sites?

Gaining insight into the application of second life in a computing course: students' perspectives

As educational delivery methods have changed over the years, often through enhancement by technology, new and innovative strategies have been introduced to enhance learning. Virtual worlds such as Second Life are being used as an educational tool in many domains and for a variety of purposes. To gain a further understanding of the use of virtual worlds in the classroom from a students perspective, the authors discuss the feedback gained from students about their participation utilizing Second Life in a computer course. Pre and post surveys were distributed to the class to get students feedback. The responses from these surveys are reported in this paper.

Designing SADD: A Social Media Agent for the Detection of the Deceased

As the number of profiles and user generated content online continues to grow, many accounts in time will inevitably belong to those that are deceased. Questions arise as what to do with content on these profiles when it becomes known that the owner of the profile has died. Additionally, many users have several profiles spread across various social networking sites. This project describes our efforts to create SADD - A Social Media Agent for the Detection of the Deceased. This tool aims to systematically identify social media accounts that may belong to a deceased user based on related posts from other users as well as changes in profile interaction. As part of this project, we present a basic framework and prototype for the program and include survey results about the perception of this type of tool which examine how users may wish to preserve online content. This project is a continuation of previous research related to virtual memorialization of web based and virtual world content and interaction.

Nifty computing in society case studies (abstract only)

This session is being organized by ACM SIGCAS (Computers and Society) for those with an interest in addressing the social and ethical consequences of computing in our society within their curricula. This year we will share case studies as a means to teaching a variety of issues resulting from the impact of computing in our society. Our discussion leaders will introduce briefly favorite case studies in their fields of interest and will encourage all participants to share examples of their own. Ways for dealing and solving current problems will be tackled. We will provide a plan of how to incorporate the case studies presented into our classes along with a handout of how to do so. Topics of interest include legal issues, social media, privacy, and sustainability.