Trust and Ethics in Persuasive Internet Content

There are so many concerns and issues regarding rights and responsibilities in the digital world, particularly Internet content. Troubling is the lack of ethics in what should be perceived as trustworthy content. Students of any age become subjected to persuasive content without knowing or realizing the origins of the message. Two constant threats I encounter are (1) those posted comments and blogs regarding products that are tools of marketing produced, without acknowledgment, by businesses, and disguised as innocent comments posted by "trustworthy" sources -- such as a "mother" saying what a wonderful time her children had at a particular place; and (2), those awful emails cleverly disguised in attempts to fool someone into thinking a reputable business is asking for confirmation of passwords or credit card information. These are activities that can too easily fool adults. Internet users of all ages should be warned to not believe all they see or read or hear on the Internet. The Internet should be a place of trust, but has become one of danger. Users have the right to expect trustworthy activity. Dishonest activity should not be allowed -- if it is considered Free Speech, sources should at least be more clearly identified. But that requires a special legal system and is impossible to control, especially when guilty parties may be anywhere in the world. All anyone can do, therefore, is just to be educated to understand that false content is unfortunately normal to the Internet.