Intercultural ethics for digital well-being: Identifying problems and exploring solutions | Culture and communication in digital worlds

Author(s):Matthew J. Dennis, Rockwell F. Clancy

Year of publication: 2022

Keywords: Digital well-being, Social media design, Human flourishing, Cultural variation, Intercultural approach, Ethical design, Technology and culture, Design challenges, Culturally aware technology

Methodology/Sample: _/_

Reference: Dennis, M. J., & Clancy, R. F. (2022). Intercultural ethics for digital well-being: Identifying problems and exploring solutions. Digital Society, 1(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44206-022-00006-2

Abstract

Designing social media technologies to promote digital well-being requires designers to face many challenges. In this article, we explore one under-explored challenge, relating to how conceptions of what it means to flourish online show significant cultural variation. We believe that today’s design-based approaches to digital well-being are hobbled by a lack of ethical attention towards important cultural variations. To remedy this, we explore the potential for an intercultural approach to digital well-being, one that respects cultural differences while preserving what culturally distinct conceptions of human flourishing have in common.

> Summary

The paper explores cultural variations in conceptions of digital well-being (DWB) and their implications for design approaches.
It argues for an intercultural approach to DWB, respecting cultural differences while identifying commonalities.
The necessity of an IDE approach to DWB is emphasized due to the limitations of current WEIRD-centric frameworks.
The paper outlines challenges faced by ethicists in technology regarding DWB and proposes a bottom-up case study method.

> Problem statement

The paper discusses the challenge of designing digital well-being (DWB) tools that respect cultural variations in conceptions of flourishing.
It highlights the dangers of homogenisation and Balkanisation in addressing DWB across diverse cultural contexts.
The authors argue that existing approaches to DWB lack sufficient ethical attention to cultural differences.
The paper aims to identify problems with current intercultural digital ethics (IDE) approaches to DWB.
It emphasizes the need for a “bottom-up” case-study method to address these challenges effectively.

> Methods used

The paper proposes a “bottom-up” case-study method for addressing ethical problems in digital well-being (DWB).
This method begins with case studies to refine ethical principles relevant to specific technologies.
It emphasizes empirical work in cultural and moral psychology to understand well-being across cultures.
The approach aims to balance cultural differences while identifying common ethical norms.
It critiques top-down approaches for being psychologically irrealist and advocates for a more culturally representative method.
The paper highlights the importance of addressing both homogenisation and Balkanisation in ethical considerations.
Overall, it seeks to articulate an intercultural approach to digital well-being that respects cultural variations.

> Practical implications

The paper emphasizes the need for designers to consider cultural variations in digital well-being technologies.
It suggests a “bottom-up” case-study method to address cultural differences in DWB.
The authors argue for an intercultural approach to digital well-being that respects cultural differences.
It highlights the importance of empirical work to understand the normative dimensions of DWB.
The paper warns against homogenisation and Balkanisation in addressing DWB across cultures.
It calls for clarity in conceptualizing DWB to aid technology design.