Ethical considerations for Facebook's news feed algorithm

• Main Author: Tan, Xenia Yin Rue
• Other Authors: Melvin Chen
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: DRNTU::Humanities::Ethics
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/76172
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Algorithms are slowly invading our lives through the constant development of new technology. Not only are algorithms capable of producing outputs, the increasing number of algorithms with learning capacities are able to create rules and make decisions and judgements on behalf of humans. Facebook’s news feed algorithm is one that has been silently structuring our lives with the potential to cause ethical impacts. The goal of this paper is to highlight the necessity for ethical considerations with regards to Facebook’s news feed algorithms because of unintended moral consequences caused directly or indirectly by the algorithm. In order to do so, I will be elaborating on three key issues of Facebook’s news feed and the values that are impacted by these issues. This paper will also identify the degree of accountability required of Facebook, Facebook’s algorithm designers and data scientists, as well as Facebook’s users with respect to the moral consequences.