NAVIGATING THROUGH ETHICS IN CONTENT CREATION

Lesiba Dikhoba

@lesiba.dikhoba

In a world where digital content is an integral part of our everyday lives, the ethics of content creation are more important than ever. At the North-West University (NWU), where students are both content creators and audience, recognising these ethical guidelines is becoming increasingly crucial.

The rise of social media platforms and user-friendly digital tools has enabled students to create and share content in unprecedented ways. From Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, the opportunities are broad. However, with these vast opportunities comes great responsibility and students need to uphold ethical values. Issues such as copyright infringement, plagiarism, transparency, privacy, and adhering to community guidelines need to be taken into account.

Properly giving credit for content you did not create is important so you can build credibility and trust. To ensure ethical content creation, students can focus on creating original material that is new and unique.

Resolofetse Msagala, a content creator and third-year BA in Communication student, highlighted how transparency with audiences is a critical component of ethical content creation: “I make sure I tell them the truth about the products I work with and I do not keep information from them. I make sure that the relationship I have with them is transparent, I respond to their comments and direct messages. Content creators must tell the truth about a product. Good or bad because it builds trust.”

Valencia Galane, a second-year Bachelor of Social Work student, emphasised from the perspective of a content consumer, “As a person who follows a lot of content creators, I really value creators who are honest when they do their reviews on products because it makes me trust their opinions more.”

“I also think it’s important for them to be upfront about sponsorships because sponsored content can affect their judgment on products.”

As NWU students continue to create content, ethical standards are important. Upholding values such as transparency, respect and accuracy fosters trust in the digital world. By adhering to these standards, students can navigate the complexities of content creation and build a more honest online environment.