The New Digital Accord: Ethics, Society and the Future of Online Interaction

Year : 2025 | Volume : 15 | Issue : 03 | Page : 102 113
    By

    Neha Kanwar,

  • Kushal Boora,

  • Ishita Sagar,

  1. Student, Dept. of Computer Science Engineering, Rajasthan College of Engineering for Women, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
  2. Student, Dept. of Computer Science Engineering, Rajasthan College of Engineering for Women, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
  3. Student, Dept. of Computer Science Engineering, Rajasthan College of Engineering for Women, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

In a time when digital technology feels like our second home, every click leaves a mark, and every share holds significance. The ‘New Digital Accord’ aims to explore the complex relationship between technological progress and ethical responsibilities, examining how our constant connectivity shapes social behaviours, digital safety, and moral values. This paper addresses key challenges such as cybersecurity threats, misinformation, digital addiction, online harassment, and the ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence. A significant focus is the illusion of connectivity, where the internet creates a sense of closeness while simultaneously increasing social isolation. We investigate the effects of hyperreality, where online interactions can seem more genuine than those in the physical world, resulting in reduced face-to-face
communication and a decline in traditional values. The evolution of social media into a virtual courtroom raises issues of digital vigilantism, while AI-generated content poses challenges to intellectual property rights. The emergence of digital doppelgangers, deepfakes, and algorithmic ethics further complicates the moral landscape, affecting politics, misinformation, and online identities. By examining these pressing issues, this research seeks to promote responsible digital citizenship and suggest a framework for ethical online behaviour. Emphasizing privacy, authenticity, and informed digital consent, we advocate for a balanced digital environment that prioritizes human well-being over algorithmic influence. Through the principles of transparency, respect, and digital empathy, the New Digital Accord aims to create a fair and responsible online space for future generations.

Keywords: Digital Ethics, Echo Chambers, Netiquette, Ethical AI, Digital Addiction, Social Media Vigilantism

[This article belongs to OmniScience: A Multi-disciplinary Journal ]

How to cite this article:
Neha Kanwar, Kushal Boora, Ishita Sagar. The New Digital Accord: Ethics, Society and the Future of Online Interaction. OmniScience: A Multi-disciplinary Journal. 2025; 15(03):102-113.
How to cite this URL:
Neha Kanwar, Kushal Boora, Ishita Sagar. The New Digital Accord: Ethics, Society and the Future of Online Interaction. OmniScience: A Multi-disciplinary Journal. 2025; 15(03):102-113. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/osmj/article=2025/view=236873


References

  1. Haidt J. How we can save our children from smartphones. The Times. 2024. Available from: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jonathan-haidt-howwe-cansave-our-children-from-smartphones-d9f2cgs20.
  2. King’s College London. A fifth of older British teenagers display problematic smartphone use. The Times. 2024. Available from: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fifth-of-older-teenshaveproblematic-reliance-on-phones-tmrthvdfc.
  3. AI-generated content raises risks of more bank runs, UK study shows. 2025 Feb 14. Available from: https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificialintelligence/aigenerated-content-raises-risks-more-bankruns-uk-study-shows.
  4. Twenge JM, Martin GN, Campbell WK. Decreases in psychological well-being among American adolescents after 2012 and links to screen time during the rise of smartphone technology. Emotion. 2018;18(6):765–80. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000403.
  5. Keles B, McCrae N, Grealish A. A systematic review: The influence of social media on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents. Int J Adolesc Youth. 2020;25(1):79–93. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1590851.
  6. Chou HTG, Edge N. “They are happier and having better lives than I am”: The impact of using Facebook on perceptions of others’ lives. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2012;15(2):117–21. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2011.0324.
  7. Huang C. Time spent on social network sites and psychological well-being: A meta-analysis. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2017;20(6):346–54. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.0758.
  8. Vosoughi S, Roy D, Aral S. The spread of true and false news online. Science. 2018;359(6380):1146–51. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aap9559.
  9. Australian eSafety Commissioner. Cyberstalking and online harassment: A growing threat to digital safety. 2023. Available from: https://www.esafety.gov.au.
  10. Global social media usage statistics: Trends and insights. 2024. Available from: https://www.statista.com.
  11. Kemp S. Social media trends and the evolution of digital engagement. Data Reportal. 2023. Available from: https://www.datareportal.com.
  12. We Are Social; Data Reportal; Hootsuite. Daily time spent on social networking by internet users worldwide from 2012 to 2024 (in minutes) [graph]. Statista. 2024 Feb 22 [cited 2025 Jan 23]. Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/433871/dailysocial-mediausage-worldwide/.
  13. Mental health: The impact of social media on young people [graph]. 2024 [cited 2025 Jan 23]. Available from: https://www.statista.com/chart/19262/impact-ofsocialmedia-on-mental-health/.
  14. Clearvue Health. Social media and depression. Available from: https://www.clearvuehealth.com/b/social-mediadepression/.
  15. Vosoughi S, Roy D, Aral S. Spread of true versus false news over time [graph]. Based on: The spread of true and false news online. Science. 2018;359(6380):1146–51. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aap9559.
  16. Stanford Law School. Social media addiction and mental health: The growing concern for youth wellbeing. 2024. Available from: https://law.stanford.edu/2024/05/20/social-mediaaddiction-andmental-health-the-growing-concern-foryouth-well-being.
  17. Young KS. A study of internet addiction and its effects on mental health. J Ment Health Res. 2020;25(4):389–405. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7530416.
  18. Golden D. Just a matter of time? The ‘right to disconnect’. Social Europe. 2023. Available from: https://www.socialeurope.eu/just-a-matter-of-time-the-right-to-disconnect.

Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 15
Issue 03
Received 26/08/2025
Accepted 17/11/2025
Published 12/12/2025
Publication Time 108 Days


Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics