Reflective Question 2

As digital technologies continue to develop and become embedded into everyday life, ethical questions have grown regarding how individuals within these spaces are expected to behave and interact. The driving question, ‘Is there an ethical code when engaging in the digital space that we can all agree on, and what might this look like?’, has encouraged me to reflect on what constitutes responsible behaviour online, and how this might change alongside the development of digital spaces. The underlying issues within the online environment have extended into legal, ethical, social, and industrial spaces, and the emergence of Artificial Intelligence has further broadened the question of a shared ethical code (Debuhr, 2026). As a future educator, understanding and navigating these issues when developing students’ digital literacy is crucial for successfully integrating technologies into daily life. 

When considering a universally shared code of ethics within online communities, having one set of specific rules may not be feasible due to the diverse range of individuals, contexts and technologies involved. Alternatively, boundaries and guidelines shaped by shared principles could form the foundation of an ethical ‘code’ for interacting in digital spaces. A good example of this can be seen within the Australian Framework for Generative Artificial Intelligence in Schools, which emphasises principles of transparency, fairness, accountability, and safety – aiming to guide the use of AI tools to benefit schools, students, and teachers (Australian Government, 2023). Principle-based guidelines demonstrate that emerging technology does not require distinct rules and regulations that every individual must follow; rather, they provide a foundation of core values that are inclusive and achievable. Additionally, the broader flexibility of a principle-based approach is sustainable as technologies evolve, as new ethical concerns may emerge that a specific ‘rule-based’ code could not account for. Therefore, in order to maintain an ethical code when engaging in digital spaces may be more achievable through a framework of core principles, given the adaptability of digital technology and its future applications.