While I mostly agree with you, my Canadian Mechanical Engineer father will gladly express his concern.

I've never been able to use the phrase "software engineer", despite having 20+ years of software experience because I was raised to believe that Engineers have silver rings, engineering degrees and professional standing.

And perhaps most relevant to the software engineering/not-engineering conversation, a code of ethics.

Iron rings.

Whoops, Iron! Of course. I can't believe that I made that mistake. Please don't tell my Dad.

We let theology professors call themselves doctor. The definition of engineer is "a person who designs, builds, or maintains engines, machines, or public works." Are we arguing that software is not a machine or in the case of social media, a public work? Many machines and public works are privately owned at that. Further, there is regulation for software and engineers are held accountable to it.

A business can title a person as an engineer with limited complaints, a person cannot market themselves as an engineer.

Here in Texas, we had a licensure board for Software Engineering for a minute, though it was eventually killed by our Sunset Commission, because almost no one was interested in it (sadly).

> No one has expressed concern so far.

The article is an expression of concern. It also cites three court cases to show that it matters.

I've never gotten a ticket for jaywalking, either, but my employer recently shuffled some titles around similar to the advice in this article.

Anything can happen in Canada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlonY2l3V9c