UPSC Mains 2023 GS4 Q19 — Social Media Ethics
You hold a responsible position in a ministry in the government... (a) Based on the above case study, discuss the ethical issues involved in the use of social media. (b) Discuss the pros and cons of using social media by you to put across the facts to counter the fake propaganda against your family. (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- discuss
- Scope keywords
- responsible position in a ministryethical issuesuse of social mediafacts to counter the fake propagandaagainst your family
- Implicit sub-parts
- Conflict between official conduct rules and personal right to self-defense.
- The risk of 'Social Media Trials' and the blurring of boundaries between a public servant's private and professional persona.
- Alternatives to personal social media for grievance redressal and fact-checking.
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing too much on the 'fake news' aspect without addressing the 'responsible position' (Code of Conduct) constraints.
- Providing a generic essay on social media's impact instead of analyzing the specific ethical dilemma of a civil servant's family being targeted.
- Neglecting to mention the 'means vs ends' debate—whether using a personal handle to fight a private battle is an appropriate use of official stature.
- Emotional responses that ignore the Neutrality and Anonymity principles of the Civil Services.
- Dimensions required
- Legal-Professional (Conduct Rules)Personal-Ethical (Right to dignity/family safety)Institutional (Integrity of the Ministry)Psychological (Mental health and public perception)
- Marks allocation hint
Devote approximately 100 words to part (a) by categorizing ethical issues like impartiality vs. personal loyalty. The remaining 150 words should cover part (b), providing a balanced analysis of pros and cons, concluding with a nuanced 'middle path' or an alternative institutional mechanism to resolve the crisis.
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