Roberts, Lynne D. "Ethical issues in conducting qualitative research in online communities." Qualitative Research in Psychology 12.3 (2015): 314-325.

As psychologists increasingly turn to the internet for research, they encounter unique ethical challenges inherent to online qualitative methods. This article delves into these challenges, emphasizing the complexity of ethical considerations that extend beyond procedural ethics to include the nuanced dynamics of ethics in practice. Key issues identified encompass the delineation of public versus private spaces, the distinction between authorship and human research participants, informed consent complexities, considerations around anonymity and pseudonymity, the ethics of covert research and deceptive identities, participant reactions, and the integrity of data obtained online. We argue for the necessity of a comprehensive ethical evaluation prior to engaging in research within online communities, highlighting the importance of sensitivity to the specific context of each community and the need for ongoing ethical vigilance throughout the research process.