Chapter 4.3, Problem 111E

To determine

To explain why the research was widely criticized for being unethical.

Explanation of Solution

In cooperation with researchers from Cornell University, Facebook randomly selected $700,000$ users for an experiment in "emotional contagion”. They wanted to study about that reading emotionally negative postings result in a negative tone or not and vice-a-versa.

Thus, the research was widely criticized for being unethical because it is not right way of conducting this study as posting negative reads on the social media may lead to many other factors that can harm the person reading it. If they want to study the individuals then they should have first selected the individuals and should have checked their health and mental conditions before their study as it can harm the mental status a human being who are surveyed.