AlterNation Series Part II : SOCIAL ETIQUETTE ONLINE

My previous article on what we can do to propel a better-knit global community and raise awareness on a call for change today leads to the topic of online social etiquette. I think a good place to start is with how we conduct ourselves online which intricately connects people all around the world.

Currently, we find that people are surfing the web more than ever before. Many people have smartphones or other devices that link them to the internet.

I am going to detail ways to conduct online social etiquette. According to https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/etiquette Etiquette is defined as follows: a noun, the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life.

Multiple websites discuss this topic. The one I choose to reference is: https://www.verywellmind.com/ten-rules-of-netiquette-22285

Within this web post, there are ten (10) major guidelines to follow:

1. Make people a priority
   
   
2. Use respectful language
   
   
3. Share with discretion
   
   
4. Do not exclude others
   
   
5. Choose friends wisely
   
   
6. Respect people’s privacy
   
   
7. Fact check before reposting
   
   
8. Do not spam
   
   
9. Respond to emails and texts promptly
   
   
10. Update online information
    
    

Now, some of these may be common knowledge, but to highlight a few points, even though we are on the internet, we should make people in our physical presence a priority where we pay attention first to those around us, instead of online taking precedence.

This makes sense to me. How often have we sat at a table or mid-conversation and the phone rings and attention shifts to the device?

Continuing, respectful language preserves your person as well as a good impression on others. Lastly, fact-checking can be often overlooked but it is essential to avoid misinformation that can spread rapidly on the web. In conclusion, following these fundamentals in online social etiquette allows for a safer, friendlier environment on the web, leading to an even more progressive global future.