The Ethical Impact of the Internet of Things in Social Relationships: Technological mediation and mutual trust

In emerging consumer devices and systems using new technologies, it is hard to avoid the Internet of Things (IoT). Internet-connected consumer products have been in existence for years, and many home automation and security products are now connected to the Internet. Could these devices pose new ethical challenges in the future in addition to privacy concerns? This article provides an ethical view of the IoT from the perspective of its potential impact on mutual trust in social relationships. We will present concepts, such as affordances and social networks, considering the IoT in the context of the technological evolution of social networks.