Ethical Considerations When Using Online Datasets for Research Purposes

The Internet has become an important community communications platform, supporting a range of programs and virtual environments. While there are many ways in which people choose to develop personal interactions over the Internet, one of the most popular manifestations is the creation and maintenance of social relationships using social and dating websites. In this chapter, the collection and use of data from such sites is assessed from an ethical frame, and key concepts such as informed consent, information, comprehension, and voluntariness are outlined.