Net-ta-wha? Netiquette! 3 Simple Rules for Internet Etiquette.
Whats up with people online these days? It’s as if the whole idea of net-etiquette has been abandoned, instead replaced with communities described as toxic, saturated with salty individuals. It’s as if people mistake their limited and shrinking internet anonymity as a right or reason to diverge from what would be consider proper or even acceptable internet etiquette. These internet trolls, however, are not solely to blame as many people may be aware of how to properly interact with people face to face but are unaware of the simple intricacies of online interactions.
Well, I am an here today to remind everyone with 3 simple tips to guarantee your netiquette is up to speed.
#1 Be Nice!
Sometimes it is easy to forget that on the other side of the computer is another person just like yourself, often because you are not face to face. You should always show each individual you meet online the same respect you would expect to receive. Just because you are not engaged in a face to face interaction does not mean ‘normal’ etiquette should be thrown out the window.
When online individuals should avoid going on rants (especially inappropriate ones) in public forums, always respect the opinions of others whether you agree or disagree with their stance, avoid slandering individuals or spreading gossip, and of re-frame from posting any racist, homophobic, sexist, or any other socially unacceptable remarks or material.
An easy tip to keep in mind is the grandma test. Ask yourself, ‘would grandma approve of what I am posting’ if not then its probably a safe bet that it is not appropriate. A more modern example of this test may be to consider ‘if anything and everything you ever posted or said online could be traced back to you by anyone at anytime would you still post your comment or remark?’.
#2 Learn the Internet Norms
Now-a-days the internet consists of huge online communities which have developed certain norms, practices and rules of engagement for the online world. These can range from simple typing abbreviations to internet memes and everything in-between.
The online community has constructed a large list of internet acronyms that can leave individuals in the dark without understanding their meaning, some popular ones are BTW (by the way), LOL (laugh out loud) and TTYL (talk to you later), and more complete list can be found here. However, it is also important not to over use these abbreviations or overuse emoticons.
Another common internet norm is the use of capitals to represent yelling or shouting. Typing in all caps can drastically change the way in which people read and understand your comment or post. Make sure to use proper capitalization and only use all caps when intending to yell or shout (i.e. excited about a certain situation).
Proof read, otherwise you will be roasted.
Learn the internet memes and how they are used. This one is arguably more tricky and probably less applicable for business, but improper use of internet memes can land any individual in hot water.
# 3 Follow the Law and Protect Yourself
Just because you are online and relatively anonymous doesn't mean you shouldn’t act like a ‘law biding citizen’. the internet can be used for some shady endeavors and you must be careful not to find yourself mixed up in something you shouldn't.
Torrenting is one example of some shady internet behavior, outside the lines of proper internet etiquette. When online individuals should still follow the law which include copy right laws, so be sure to avoid illegal downloads and always properly source your references.
On the flip-side, you must be careful online to protect your personal info, make sure you never give out any of your personal info online like passwords or addresses.
You made it! I hope this post was helpful and remember, be kind rewind!
