What's the difference between "cheating on a test" in an actual classroom and "emailing test answers to friends" over the Internet? They're both unethical, right? So why is it that some teenagers are willing to do one, but not the other?
Does "Right or Wrong" Matter Online?
Researchers at Michigan State University wanted to know if young people held the same moral standards online as they do offline. So, in ongoing studies they asked hundreds of 12-year-olds to classify certain virtual actions as "right" or "wrong" and then they asked them to classify similar real world actions as "right" or "wrong."
The tweens were asked about the acceptability of online practices such as "spreading computer viruses," "viewing pornography," and "sending sexually explicit messages to strangers." The real world actions they were asked about included "bullying or teasing," "lying to parents or teachers," and "using racial slurs."
What they discovered was a bit unsettling.
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