Information Technologies and Social Problems

INFO202: Social Aspects of Information Technology Fall 2018

Fourth Short Paper Assignment: Information Technologies and Social Problems

Due Date: December 9, 2018

1. Topic. Select a social problem from the list below. As in previous papers, identify three strategies for mitigating or solving the social problem. One solution should focus on an individual strategy. One should focus on a technological strategy. The third should focus on a legal or social strategy. Discuss the pros and cons of each strategy.

2. Sources. At least two of your three strategies must be strategies that other people have actually proposed in serious journalistic or academic articles. You will need to cite sources for these strategies. In total, you should use and provide citations to at least three course readings and at least two additional readings. At least one of the additional readings needs to be a peer-reviewed academic or law article. One of the required additional readings may be from a credible source, as described in Paper Assignment #1 (3,000 words), or both may be academic or law articles. For a better grade, you should use more than the required two outside sources. You may not use outside readings that you have used in previous papers. You may cite class readings you have previously cited, but at least one class reading that you use must be one you have not cited for a previous paper. Requirements for using readings and concepts described in the previous papers also apply to this paper.

3. Write-Up. (5-6 double-spaced pages)

Introduction. (1 paragraph) See discussion in previous assignments.

Identification of the Issue. (1 page) Describe the challenge, identifying what aspects of information technology are involved. Cite class readings as appropriate. You may also use materials from your solution strategy source articles in this discussion.

Discussion of the Three Strategies. (3 pages) See discussions above under Topic and Sources.

Argument for the Best Solution. (1 page) Make a case for which one is the best, drawing on your evaluations of the pros and cons of each.

Conclusion. (1 paragraph) See discussion in previous assignments.

Citation. You must include citations in APA style.

Social Problems List

Your social problem must come from this list, unless otherwise approved by Professor Kendall. In addition to being a problem that affects society in general (not just a specific discipline), your topic may not overlap with the challenge you addressed in your first paper.

Loss of jobs through automation Job degradation (e.g., digital Taylorism)

Distracted driving Online bullying (applying to kids online)

Digital racism Discrimination based on algorithms

Cyberwarfare Negative effects of increasing quantification

Challenges of information technologies to intellectual property law and practices

Online harassment of adults (doxxing, gamergate, cyberstalking, etc.)

Negative effects of filter bubbles (could focus particularly on elections, political polarization, narrowing of personal choices, etc.)