Ethics & Social Media
Credit Hours:
3
Approximate reading time:
1 Hour
Approximate online time:
2 Hours
Program Abstract
As social media has emerged as a powerful force in
interpersonal communications, fire investigators are being confronted with new
questions about how far they can and should go when determining responsibility
for a fire. In addition, investigators may face scrutiny about their
actions and words used in social media, especially as department and corporate
policies catch up with each new innovation in how we communicate with family,
friends, and the public. Through the use of vignettes, this module presents
and discusses hot-button ethical questions in the use of social media in both
the investigative context and the professional conduct context. This
module will provide a brief introduction to social media, a framework for
ethical decision-making, discussion of how to think through and make ethical
decisions in the three vignettes, and guidance on considering the relationship
of legal to ethical in decision-making.
Although it is not required, learners may find it beneficial
to first complete the "Ethics and the Fire Investigator" CFITrainer.Net® module
before beginning this module.