Research Proposal - Diya Bhusal (1)
.pdf
School
University of British Columbia**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
WRDS 150A
Subject
Information Systems
Date
Dec 18, 2024
Pages
7
Uploaded by HighnessLightning15949
“Addiction Accountability: Predicting governmental regulations and ethical Standards foralgorithmic media companies”Orchestrating Conversations :As digital technologies become increasingly pervasive, the algorithmic experience thatmakes user experiences raise significant ethical concerns (Alter, A., 2017). Some research showsconcerns about internet addiction for being linked to reduced human interaction, anxiety, anddepression, which has resulted in the wasting of time (Hairollizam, Masrom & Mohd Hashim;2020). It further looks that firms develop algorithms that consider users' well-being rather thanprofit and the critical intervention of the government (Martin, K.; 2019). My research tries todraft a scientifically grounded forecast of legal responses to algorithmic addiction by analyzingcurrently developed frameworks and proposing standards of ethical behavior that should inspirefuture regulations to become fit for the purpose of assuring a responsible balance in algorithmdesign.Research Gap :In recent years, despite raised concerns about algorithmic manipulations, biases andaddition, we see a hole in the topic around solutions which might include governmentalregulations and ethical standards. While technology and human relationship build quite rapidlyand are so novel leading to less knowledge in its short-term and long term effects, the authority's
accountability aspects lack more. This research will aim to bridge that by analyzing currentregulatory reactions and suggesting possible and feasible options of government intervention.Research Question :What governmental strategies can be implemented to monitor/ intervene addictivealgorithms and their effects?Assumption :My assumption is that due to increasing domination of internet and algorithmic media inthe world, and awareness of its concerning effects, either governmental or regulatory bodies willemphasize transparency and user well-being friendly limits to capitalization of attentioneconomy.Data and methods :I intend to use qualitative study in which Braun & Clarke’s thematic analysis would bedone to capture the ethical and regulatory dimensions of algorithmic addictions. Sources of datawill include scholarly literature related to algorithmic addiction, ethics, and corporateresponsibility. Some real-life cases regarding algorithmic addition including a lawsuit filedagainst Meta in 2020 over addictiveness to social media would help study current regulations.
Addictive algorithms will be analyzed through ethical frameworks like utilitarianism,Kantianism, and virtue ethics.Purpose and positionality :Just because everyone seems to joke about their screen time doesn’t mean it should benormalized. I have been thinking about it for a while now. And this research topic being theintersection of technology, ethics, and public policy re-established my interest in the field itself.Having had multiple conversations with people about internet addiction and self experimentingdetox, through research, I hope to contribute to ongoing discussions about regulatory frameworksand the importance of ethical standards in algorithm design. Also, I hoped to spark a thought intopeople from my generation who were so indulged in technology to pause and zoom out andquestion.Challenges :One anticipated challenge is the dynamic nature of regulatory frameworks, which maychange rapidly in response to public discourse and technological advancements. To mitigate this,I will focus on recent documents after 2017 and consult diverse sources to ensure a well-roundedunderstanding of the current landscape. Additionally, interpreting the implications of theseregulations may be complex, necessitating a careful and nuanced analysis to capture the potentialimpact on tech companies and user experiences.
Annotated BibliographyAlter, A. (2017).Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Businessof Keeping Us Hooked.New York: Penguin Press : In the book, Alterlooks at the omnipresence of addictive technology and the psychologicalmethods that technology businesses use to keep users hooked. He says thatexisting regulation has proved incapable of dealing with the moral issuesthrown up by algorithmic addiction. Present regulations often fail to shieldcustomers from deceitful techniques, argues Alter. He supports legislationthat contains more drastic measures, such as stronger algorithmaccountability and more transparent laws in addition to the establishmentof educational initiatives with the objective of sensitizing the citizensabout the risks of using technology. This work is important inunderstanding how ethics, public policy, and technology interact.
Hairollizam, I. F., Masrom, M., & Mohd Hashim, N. F. (2020). A review ofinternet addiction problems using the perspective of ethical theories.Issues in Information Systems, 21(1), 260-270. Retrieved fromhttps://iacis.org/iis/2020/1_iis_2020_260-270.pdf: Thisarticle,Hairollizam, I. F., Masrom, M., & Mohd Hashim give afoundational definition about internet/technology addiction andemphasizes on cyberethics - “a philosophical study of computer relatedethics that covers user’s behavior and personal impact out of use.” Using 5out of 8 ethical theories ( mostly ethical objectivism) to justify theimmorality of internet addiction, it goes on to point out specific physicaland mental impact to the addict and the people around. Because myresearch is more about the solution, the article gives an insight on someexamples of government interventions and spots of improvement or forcelike time restriction on access to young people ages 17 or under , orrecovery resources.Martin, K. (2019). Ethical implications and accountability of algorithms.Journalof Business Ethics, 160, 835–850.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-3921-3: Martin talks about the ethicaldimensions of algorithmic decision-making and the accountability of theindividuals who create and effect such systems in the article. Sheunderlines that algorithms are never neutral, as they are embedded with
the values and biases of whoever created them. To this end, ethicaldilemmas are very serious. Martin thus thrusts this issue into the limelight:making algorithmic processes transparent and creating an accountabilityframework that would include ethics training for developers andorganizations themselves. Further, the article helps consider the concept ofmaking designers take responsibility for societal impacts because of theirtechnologies, which gives me meaningful insights on responsibility offirms.Yan, S. (2021). Algorithms are not bias-free:Four mini-cases. Journal ofInformation Ethics, 30(1), 45-61 : In this article, Yan talks about how oursubconscious cognitive biases follow around inherent mental bias fromwhere algorithmic biases are picked up. Using four different case studiesof the real world, it was explained how current beliefs, and discriminationswould be perpetuated by the algorithmic system. Studying content pickingout of the huge pile using an algorithmic system, the concept of bias-freeis intriguing to not exist when an algorithm in itself is biased. This iscrucial to avoid one-dimensional exposure of the world. Yan emphasizesthe need for transparency and accountability in algorithm design. Thearticle serves essential for scholars and policymakers seeking to addressthe challenges posed by biased algorithms in contemporary society.
[YouTube Video] (2020). Drowning in Entertainment: The Age of Distraction.Directed by J. G.: It's a documentary about the omnipresent influence ofdigital distractions in today's world and how the addiction-engenderingmechanism of entertainment technologies has taken hold. The film goeson to investigate the effects of continuous connectivity on the psyche andthe consequences of living in a screen-saturated world. This filmmaintains that the architecture of modern entertainment is addictivelydesigned to keep people consuming, which shortens their attention spanand heightens their anxiety levels. By underlining these issues, thedocumentary calls for a critical review in our relationship with technologyand a need for regulatory frameworks pertaining to algorithmic addiction.This video shall be useful in understanding better the ethical concernslying beneath digital distractions and what could be probable strategies forintervention.