Your company, Acme Co., is sponsoring a three-hour field day for children at a local park, featuring games, sports, and snacks. Parents must register their children for the field day online. Your company wants to take pictures of children at the event, but it needs parents' permission. Which option below best describes an ethical way to get parents' permission?
A) Place a checkbox on the online form next to text that reads "I agree to the terms and conditions of the field day" and provide a link to a separate page of terms and conditions. Design the form so that this checkbox is already checked when the parent gets to that page.
B) Provide a link in the online form to a separate page of terms and conditions. Have the company lawyers write the terms and conditions in legal language and with citations of relevant laws in case another lawyer reads them.
C) Place a checkbox on the online form next to text that reads "I agree to allow Acme Co. to take pictures of my child or children to record and promote field-day activities." Design the form so that this checkbox is not checked when the parent gets to that page.
D) Include a note in small print at the bottom of the sign-up form informing parents that children may be photographed at the event.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Option C provides a clear and specific statement requesting permission to take pictures of children at the event. The checkbox is unselected to allow parents to make an affirmative choice. This option is also concise and easy to understand, making it more likely that parents will read and agree to the statement. Option A is not ethical as it is coercive and may take advantage of parents who do not read the terms and conditions thoroughly. Option B places too much emphasis on legal language and can be intimidating to parents, causing them to skip reading the terms and conditions altogether. Option D is not comprehensive enough as it only provides a note in small print and does not explicitly request permission.

Your Company, Acme Co