Relationship between Social Media and ASCE Code of Ethics: Review and Case-Based Discussion

Abstract

The responsibilities of civil engineers are not limited to technical practices. The responsibility borne by employers and senior members of the profession to uphold ethical behavior in their personal lives cannot be overstated. As the use of social media progressively grows and becomes more prevalent, its penetration into civil engineering is inevitable. Recently, research focusing on the ethical conduct of civil engineers has amassed attention. The present research proposes a two-level, case-based discussion and analysis of comments on a case study using popular social media platforms; and a questionnaire survey exploring the involvement of professional civil engineers in social media discussions. This paper reveals that the convenience and efficiency of social media implores civil engineers to follow the ASCE Code of Ethics to improve the moral standards of the profession.