Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
Cyber Harassment: A Case Analyzation Using the 7-Step Method
➢ Step 1: Statement of the Problem/s;
○ The main issue of this case is the inappropriate use of social media
platforms that also involves one's maturity in confrontation;
○ Loss of one’s life is a critical point in this issue;
○ And potential development of depression to an individual.
➢ Step 2: Assessment of significant facts/issues;
○ “In 2010, Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi jumped to his death a
few days after his roommate used a webcam to observe and tweet about
Tyler’s sexual encounter with another man.”
■ Non-ethical issue/s:
● Disrespecting
one’s
privacy,
for
the
fact
that
a
nonconsensual observation was done;
● Telling
or
posting
online
about
the
non-consented
observation is considered as online public shaming and
cyber bullying;
● Revealing of one’s sexuality[homosexuality] without consent
is gender discrimination;
● Exposing one’s sex life, again, without consent is sexual
harassment.
○ “...one of her students tweeted that the teacher was a “bitch” and a
“whore,””
■ Non-ethical issue/s:
● Calling an individual unpleasant names online behind his/her
back can also be considered as online public shaming and
cyber bullying;
○ “Demanding a public apology in front of the class, Hernández stated that
she would not allow “young brats” to call her those names.”
■ Non-ethical issue/s:
1
Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
● Asking someone for an unofficial pubic apology for the sake
of one’s own pride and name can be considered as public
shaming;
● Calling your students/young ones “brats” is considered as
bullying and implying that one is not being a good role
model.
○ “Hernández uploaded a video of this confrontation online, attracting much
attention.”
■ Non-ethical issue/s:
● Recording an unofficial public apology is disrespecting one’s
privacy;
● Publishing the recorded video online is also public online
shaming that is prone to cyber bullying;
➢ Step 3: Identifying the stakeholders;
○ Case 1 (Tyler Clementi’s case):
■ Tyler’s roommate
■ Online netizens
■ University faculty and staff
○ Case 2 (Hernández’s case):
■ One of Hernandez’s students who called her names online
■ Hernandez herself
■ School’s disciplinary staff
■ Online netizens
➢ Step 4: Developing a list of options
○ Case 1 (Tyler Clementi’s case):
■ Option 1: Tyler could confront his roommate and ask him the
reason why he did such a thing, and also ask him to delete the
online post on the subject.
■ Option 2: If the confrontation did not do much, Tyler could have
turned to his parents.
2
Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
■ Option 3: Tyler's parents could also contact the college's guidance
counselor and disciplinary office, since exposing a schoolmate can
affect the reputation of the institution.
■ Option 4: Tyler's party could also report the matter to the authorities
for harassment and possible criminal offences.
■ Option 5: Assuming Tyler is being discreet about his sexuality at the
time, he could have used the incident as an opportunity to come out
and accept himself to cushion the blow.
○ Case 2 (Hernández’s case):
■ Option 1: If the student was really upset, she should have kept her
thoughts to herself to avoid unpleasant consequences.
■ Option 2: Assuming there is no evidence of the student's tweet, Ms.
Idalia should have confirmed the student's act prior to the
confrontation.
■ Option 3: If there was legitimate evidence and Ms. Idalia was also
upset with her student's behavior, she should have confronted her
in private.
■ Option 4: If a private confrontation didn't work, Ms. Idalia may refer
the matter to the school's disciplinary office and principal for the
student to formally apologise and inform her parents of the matter.
■ Option 5: If Miss Idalia's intention is to raise awareness by posting
the recorded video on the internet, she could have kept the video to
herself as proof of admission, and she can also raise awareness by
addressing the issue in general and keeping the identity of the
student in private and the institution, as the act may affect the
school's reputation.
3
Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
➢ Step 5: Testing options;
Case 1 (Tyler Clementi’s case):
Option 1
YES
Harm Test - Does this option do less harm than
any alternative?
✅
✅
Publicity Test - Would I want my choice of this
option published in the newspaper?
Defensibility Test - Could I defend my choice of
this option before a Congressional committee, a
committee of my peers, or my parents?
Reversibility Test - Would I still think the choice of
this option good if I were one of those adversely
affected by it?
NO
✅
✅
If I choose
Virtue Test - What would I become if I choose this
option often?
confrontation often,
there is a possibility
that I can build rapport
with other people.
They might say that
confrontation is the
Professional Test - What might my profession's fundamental step when
ethics committee say about this option?
it comes to taking
action towards an
issue.
Colleague Test - What do my colleagues say
when I describe my problem and suggest this Most likely to agree.
option as my solution?
4
Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
Same response with
the profession's ethics
Organization Test - What does the organization's committee and they
ethics officer or legal counsel say about this?
also might suggest
other alternative
options.
Option 2
YES
✅
Harm Test - Does this option do less harm than
any alternative?
✅
Publicity Test - Would I want my choice of this
option published in the newspaper?
Defensibility Test - Could I defend my choice of
this option before a Congressional committee, a
committee of my peers, or my parents?
Reversibility Test - Would I still think the choice of
this option good if I were one of those adversely
affected by it?
Virtue Test - What would I become if I choose this
option often?
NO
✅
✅
This option might build
up the trust between
me and my parents.
Seeking our guardian's
Professional Test - What might my profession's intervention and advice
ethics committee say about this option?
is one of the right things
to do.
Colleague Test - What do my colleagues say
when I describe my problem and suggest this Most likely to agree.
option as my solution?
5
Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
Seeking our guardian's
Organization Test - What does the organization's intervention and advice
ethics officer or legal counsel say about this?
is one of the right things
to do.
Option 3
YES
✅
Harm Test - Does this option do less harm than
any alternative?
✅
Publicity Test - Would I want my choice of this
option published in the newspaper?
Defensibility Test - Could I defend my choice of
this option before a Congressional committee, a
committee of my peers, or my parents?
Reversibility Test - Would I still think the choice of
this option good if I were one of those adversely
affected by it?
Virtue Test - What would I become if I choose this
option often?
Professional Test - What might my profession's
ethics committee say about this option?
NO
✅
✅
Seeking the involved
professional's help is a
mature act.
Most likely to agree.
Colleague Test - What do my colleagues say
when I describe my problem and suggest this Most likely to agree.
option as my solution?
Organization Test - What does the organization's
ethics officer or legal counsel say about this?
Most likely to agree.
6
Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
Option 4
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
YES
NO
✅
Harm Test - Does this option do less harm than
any alternative?
Publicity Test - Would I want my choice of this
option published in the newspaper?
Defensibility Test - Could I defend my choice of
this option before a Congressional committee, a
committee of my peers, or my parents?
Reversibility Test - Would I still think the choice of
this option good if I were one of those adversely
affected by it?
✅
✅
✅
I might execute an
Virtue Test - What would I become if I choose this example and raise
option often?
awareness to other
people.
Professional Test - What might my profession's
ethics committee say about this option?
Most likely to agree.
Colleague Test - What do my colleagues say
when I describe my problem and suggest this Most likely to agree.
option as my solution?
Organization Test - What does the organization's
ethics officer or legal counsel say about this?
Option 5
Most likely to agree.
YES
Harm Test - Does this option do less harm than
any alternative?
Publicity Test - Would I want my choice of this
✅
NO
✅
7
Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
option published in the newspaper?
Defensibility Test - Could I defend my choice of
✅
this option before a Congressional committee, a
committee of my peers, or my parents?
Reversibility Test - Would I still think the choice of
✅
this option good if I were one of those adversely
affected by it?
Virtue Test - What would I become if I choose this
option often?
I might build
self-confidence and
self-acceptance.
They will somehow
Professional Test - What might my profession's agree because the
ethics committee say about this option?
issues are critical and
needed to take action.
Colleague Test - What do my colleagues say
when I describe my problem and suggest this
option as my solution?
They will somehow
agree because the
issues are critical and
needed to take action.
They will somehow
Organization Test - What does the organization's agree because the
ethics officer or legal counsel say about this?
issues are critical and
needed to take action.
Case 2 (Hernández’s case):
Option 1
YES
Harm Test - Does this option do less harm than
any alternative?
Publicity Test - Would I want my choice of this
✅
NO
✅
8
Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
option published in the newspaper?
Defensibility Test - Could I defend my choice of this
option before a Congressional committee, a
committee of my peers, or my parents?
Reversibility Test - Would I still think the choice of
this option good if I were one of those adversely
affected by it?
Virtue Test - What would I become if I choose this
option often?
Professional Test - What might my profession's
ethics committee say about this option?
✅
✅
I might develop my
maturity and establish
self-control.
Most likely to agree.
Colleague Test - What do my colleagues say when
I describe my problem and suggest this option as Most likely to agree.
my solution?
Most likely to agree
and also might
Organization Test - What does the organization's suggest a professional
ethics officer or legal counsel say about this?
intervention such as
talking to a guidance
counselor,
Option 2
YES
✅
Harm Test - Does this option do less harm than
any alternative?
Publicity Test - Would I want my choice of this
option published in the newspaper?
Defensibility Test - Could I defend my choice of this
NO
✅
✅
9
Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
option before a Congressional committee, a
committee of my peers, or my parents?
Reversibility Test - Would I still think the choice of
this option good if I were one of those adversely
affected by it?
Virtue Test - What would I become if I choose this
option often?
Professional Test - What might my profession's
ethics committee say about this option?
✅
I might develop my
maturity and establish
self-control.
Most likely to agree.
Colleague Test - What do my colleagues say when
I describe my problem and suggest this option as Most likely to agree.
my solution?
Organization Test - What does the organization's
ethics officer or legal counsel say about this?
Option 3
Most likely to agree.
YES
✅
Harm Test - Does this option do less harm than
any alternative?
✅
Publicity Test - Would I want my choice of this
option published in the newspaper?
Defensibility Test - Could I defend my choice of this
option before a Congressional committee, a
committee of my peers, or my parents?
Reversibility Test - Would I still think the choice of
this option good if I were one of those adversely
affected by it?
NO
✅
✅
10
Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
I might develop my
Virtue Test - What would I become if I choose this maturity and serve as
option often?
a role model to the
confonted individual.
Professional Test - What might my profession's
ethics committee say about this option?
Most likely to agree.
Colleague Test - What do my colleagues say when
I describe my problem and suggest this option as Most likely to agree.
my solution?
Organization Test - What does the organization's
ethics officer or legal counsel say about this?
Option 4
Most likely to agree.
YES
NO
✅
Harm Test - Does this option do less harm than
any alternative?
✅
Publicity Test - Would I want my choice of this
option published in the newspaper?
Defensibility Test - Could I defend my choice of this
option before a Congressional committee, a
committee of my peers, or my parents?
Reversibility Test - Would I still think the choice of
this option good if I were one of those adversely
affected by it?
Virtue Test - What would I become if I choose this
option often?
Professional Test - What might my profession's
ethics committee say about this option?
✅
✅
I might develop my
maturity and
self-discipline.
Most likely to agree.
11
Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
Colleague Test - What do my colleagues say when
I describe my problem and suggest this option as Most likely to agree.
my solution?
Organization Test - What does the organization's
ethics officer or legal counsel say about this?
Option 5
Most likely to agree.
YES
NO
✅
Harm Test - Does this option do less harm than
any alternative?
Publicity Test - Would I want my choice of this
option published in the newspaper?
Defensibility Test - Could I defend my choice of this
option before a Congressional committee, a
committee of my peers, or my parents?
Reversibility Test - Would I still think the choice of
this option good if I were one of those adversely
affected by it?
✅
✅
✅
I might develop my
maturity,
Virtue Test - What would I become if I choose this self-discipline,
option often?
self-control, and serve
as a role model to
other people.
Professional Test - What might my profession's
ethics committee say about this option?
Most likely to agree.
Colleague Test - What do my colleagues say when
I describe my problem and suggest this option as Most likely to agree.
my solution?
12
Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
Organization Test - What does the organization's
ethics officer or legal counsel say about this?
Most likely to agree.
➢ Step 6: Making a tentative choice/s that could possibly resolve the executed
issues;
○ Case 1 (Tyler Clementi’s case):
■ Option 2: If the confrontation did not do much, Tyler could have
turned to his parents.
■ Option 3: Tyler's parents could also contact the college's guidance
counselor and disciplinary office, since exposing a schoolmate can
affect the reputation of the institution.
○ Case 2 (Hernández’s case):
■ Option 4: If a private confrontation didn't work, Ms. Idalia may refer
the matter to the school's disciplinary office and principal for the
student to formally apologise and inform her parents of the matter.
➢ Step 7: Making the final choice;
○ Case 1 (Tyler Clementi’s case):
■ Option 3: Tyler's parents could also contact the college's guidance
counselor and disciplinary office, since exposing a schoolmate can
affect the reputation of the institution.
● What could make it less likely that you will have to make
such a decision again?
-To avoid repeating such a situation, it is important to
establish a good relationship with others and to accept
oneself.
● What precautions can you take as an individual?
-Raise awareness of cyber harassment and establish
respect to others, and maybe I can transfer to another
university.
● What can you do to get more support next time?
13
Reyes, Anne Clarice M.
AE-309
4ETHICS 4404
Week 6 Assignment
-Always seek help from parents/guardians on a
serious matter that could affect them as well.
● What can you do to change the organization?
-Suggest a change in policy that might prioritize
student welfare.
● What can you do to change society as a whole?
-Advocate
for
a
law
that
directly
addresses
cyberbullying issues, as people of all ages are potential
victims and perpetrators.
○ Case 2 (Hernández’s case):
■ Option 4: If a private confrontation didn't work, Ms. Idalia may refer
the matter to the school's disciplinary office and principal for the
student to formally apologise and inform her parents of the matter.
● What could make it less likely that you will have to make
such a decision again?
-Practice self-control and maturity.
● What precautions can you take as an individual?
-Raise awareness of cyber harassment and establish
respect for others.
● What can you do to get more support next time (e.g., seek
future allies on the issue)?
-Always seek help from parents/guardians on a
serious matter that could affect them as well.
● What can you do to change the organization?
-Suggest a change in policy that might prioritize
student-teacher welfare.
● What can you do to change society as a whole?
-Advocate
for
a
law
that
directly
addresses
cyberbullying issues, as people of all ages are potential
victims and perpetrators.
14