Recently, Google had to re-write the algorithm that decides what websites appear first in a search in response to a story published in the New York Times. For some reason, the original algorithm caused websites with awful reviews to come up first in a search. For this reason, some businesses actually want their customers to write bad reviews about their company so that they will appear at the top of a search. They say "it increases business". Is that weird or what?! However, the main incident that caused google to re-write its algorithm was due to the owner of DecorMyEyes.com, a glasses company. According to customers, the owner bullied them to the point of threatening sexual harrasment if they didn't write bad reviews.
According to the article, this is not the first, or last, time something like this has happened. I understand that business owners have to be smart technology users, but is this really necessary! Unfortunately, when new technologies are created, there will always be a way to exploit them. It is important for engineers to predict the consequences of certain technologies, but it is also the responsibility of the individual to use these technologies responsibily. Technology not only provides opportunities for exploitation, but mass exploitation. In the past, you could only be threatened or coerced into something if the bully had personal ties to you. Now, with instant and global communication, anyone with technological savvy could manipulate a large group of people with ease. In this scenario, the manipulation led to unfair business practices, but it could get much worse. Along with techonological advancement comes an individual responsibility to uphold ethics and moral values.
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