Psychedelic Hype - Center for Media Engagement What are the ethics of communicating new research on psychedelic drugs?

Our case study explores the media’s role in shaping public perception of psychedelic science and the risks of falling into a “hype bubble.”

🔗 Read more: mediaengagement.org/research/psy...

Psychedelics are making headlines—hailed as revolutionary treatments, spiritual tools, and even cures. But when excitement meets simplification, what gets left out?

💭 How should journalists, scientists, and the public balance enthusiasm with caution?

Cancel Culture in Journalism? - Center for Media Engagement Did Teen Vogue give into cancel culture with its hiring (and firing) of a new editor?

She had apologized and deleted the tweets years earlier, and apologized again in 2021. Some argued she shouldn’t be defined by a mistake from college, while others questioned the sincerity and timing of her apologies.

Read the full case study: mediaengagement.org/research/can...

In 2021, Alexi McCammond was named editor-in-chief-elect of Teen Vogue. Old racist and homophobic tweets from when she was 17 resurfaced, leading staff to condemn the comments, advertisers to pull campaigns, and McCammond to resign before starting.

💭 How long should past mistakes follow us? Are some mistakes “unforgivable”?

Media Ethics - Center for Media Engagement Center for Media Engagement

📂 We offer 150+ free media ethics case studies in PDF format covering topics like social media, digital ethics, art, advertising, political communication, and more.

🔗Access them here: mediaengagement.org/research/category/media-ethics/

Case studies are a powerful tool for sparking meaningful conversations about ethics in communication, journalism, and media classes. Swipe through to see how you can use them in class!

🔗 Full case study: mediaengagement.org/research/chi...

Viral fame at what cost?👶
As child influencers gain millions of followers, we’re left asking: Is it cute content or crossing a line? From safety concerns to questions about consent and profit, the ethics of posting kids online are more complicated than they seem.

Swipe to explore both sides👇

The Ethics of Amazon Alexa - Center for Media Engagement What's wrong with calling Amazon's AI assistant by a human name?

Alexa, what’s the ethical cost of your name?

Amazon’s voice assistant reshaped tech — and real lives. Women named Alexa have reported teasing, harassment, and even changing their names.
Should tech products use real names at all?🤖

🔗 mediaengagement.org/research/the...

@ethicsofmedia.bsky.social

Bringing Dead Actors Back to Life - Center for Media Engagement The Ethics of Recreating Deceased Actors with CGI and AI

Would you watch a movie starring a digitally recreated actor? Who should get the final say — the estate, the public, or the actor? Is this honoring history or rewriting it?

Let us know what you think 👇

🔗Read the full case study here: mediaengagement.org/research/bri...

AI, CGI, and deepfake tech could let long-gone stars act again. But should they? 

Let’s talk about legacy, ethics, and who really owns a performance.

It ain’t Easy Being Green - Center for Media Engagement What are the ethics of greenwashing products in advertising?

🔗 Read the full case study: mediaengagement.org/research/it-...

🌿 Green isn’t always clean.
From Patagonia’s radical giving to Mercedes’ misleading ads, not all eco-claims are created equal. Some make real change—others just make good ads.

Swipe to learn about the fine line between genuine sustainability and greenwashing👉

“Alexa” is more than a device — it’s a name. And for thousands, it’s become a punchline.
Our case study explores the ethical fallout of Amazon’s naming choice and what happens when tech enters real lives.

Should voice assistants use human names at all?

🔗 Study: mediaengagement.org/research/the...

Child Sensation or Exploitation? - Center for Media Engagement What are the ethics of online child influencers?

Read more about this ethical dilemma in our free case study with this link! bit.ly/KidInfluencer

#Childexploitation #Kidinfluencers

Sharing children’s lives online has become common, but it raises ethical concerns about consent and potential exploitation. As cute content gains popularity, society must carefully consider where to draw the line between innocent sharing and harm.

Scientists as Superheroes? - Center for Media Engagement How can scientists ethically communicate urgent information?

Read more about the ethics and complexities of science communication in our free case study with this link! bit.ly/Science-comm

#sciencecommunication #covid19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists faced the challenge of communicating complex and evolving information to the public. Balancing scientific accuracy with public understanding highlighted the ethical complexities of science communication in a global crisis.

The Ethics of Skinvertising - Center for Media Engagement Is it wrong to sell your skin as advertising space?

Read more about the ethics of skinvertising in our free case study with this link! bit.ly/Skinvertising
#skinvertising #tattoos #advertising

Hostgator Dotcom became a living advertisement when he began selling space on his body and face for branded tattoos. This poses questions about the moral obligations companies have when making advertising choices that seriously affect the advertiser.

The Ethics of Amazon Alexa - Center for Media Engagement What's wrong with calling Amazon's AI assistant by a human name?

Read more about the ethics of using popular human names for voice assistants in our free case study with this link! bit.ly/AmazonAlexaE...

#amazon #alexa #ethics

Amazon's Alexa became a major success but unintentionally led to widespread teasing for people named Alexa. The popularity of the name has significantly declined since the product's launch, raising questions about whether virtual assistants should have human-like names.

Can Artificial Intelligence improve Democracy? - Center for Media Engagement What are the ethics of covering conspiracy theories in the news?

Check out our free case study discussing the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI involvement in political communication with this link! bit.ly/PoliticalCom... #ai #politicalcommunication #mediaethics

AI is changing the way politicians connect with voters. Shamaine Daniels is using AI technology to engage with voters, offering personalized, real-time communication. While AI has the potential to increase voter trust and efficiency, it also raises ethical concerns about transparency and bias.

Sprinting Towards Publication - Center for Media Engagement Does the rush for breaking news push the boundaries of ethical journalism?

Check out our free case study discussing the ethical dilemmas surrounding speedy journalism with this link! bit.ly/SpeedyJourna...
#journalism #mediaethics

With social media driving the need for instant news, journalists are under pressure to publish quickly, often sacrificing accuracy. The 2012 Sandy Hook shooting revealed how rushing to break a story can lead to major reporting mistakes, like misidentifying the gunman.