We may easily disregard the netiquette rules when being online, but since the pandemic, we have been spending time online more than we used to before the pandemic hit. This makes it vital for us to know the etiquette when going online, and no one who uses the internet on a daily basis gets away with this. Just like in real life, your actions bear consequences.
Ever Heard About Netiquette?
Netiquette is the combination of Net + Etiquette. For the sake of your reputation and to prevent compromising your connections both online and offline, you must abide by these fundamental netiquette rules.
1. Do Not Be Yourself
Image via The Institute For Learning And Teaching
When you are online, you can be whoever you want. It is something that we are most excited about. When you create an online profile, you choose what you want the world to know about you and hide the ones you don’t. By not being yourself means, if you are a sarcastic person in real life, for instance, avoid bringing that attitude into your digital life. People may misinterpret your intentions, which will damage your online reputation in the long run.
2. Respect Others’ Privacy
Image via Vecteezy
Next, never post images or videos of other people without them knowing. Whether you post images or videos of them for public view or on your personal social media page, you still need to protect their privacy. Keep in mind that unless the individuals in the images have consented to it, only then you are allowed to do so. The same concept applies when sharing others’ contact details. Do not simply send one’s details to others.
3. Read Before Responding
Image via Indeed
It is undoubtedly exciting to immediately respond to a juicy headline of an article about the latest gossip. You need to be the first one who know and blast about it, we completely understand. You read the title, and the next thing you know you are already at your third paragraph of expressing your opinions. Before reacting, skim read the post, and check the resources before forming an opinion about it. Too much of a hassle? You can always choose to not entertain them at all.
4. Use The Correct Grammar And Punctuation
Image via Freepik
Spend some time going over your responses once again. Verify the spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Save your peers’ frustration trying to interpret what you just sent them. Furthermore, poor grammar may interfere with the purpose of your writing. People may misinterpret what you are saying if you fail to use correct grammar.
5. Notify People When You Are Unavailable
Image via Simple Texting
Finally, you should start to declare your withdrawal from online discussions, just like when you are leaving a party, you must say goodbye. When you leave a person without letting them know, the person you are speaking with can get confused and worry whether they said something to enrage you, or they might carry on talking without realizing that you have left.
6. Avoid Spamming
Image via Bark
Any undesired message received is referred to as “spam”. Spam is the term used to describe unsolicited emails, texts, or social media messages in the internet world. It can help to maintain your relationships if you refrain from doing this to your contacts. Ask before sending any information if you wish to share it with your acquaintances. By doing just one simple thing, you can avoid being blocked.
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You won’t experience any issues with online communication in your daily life if you abide by the aforementioned netiquette rules. Furthermore, your peers will see you favorably for your polite and courteous behavior. Happy surfing on the internet!
