Digital Etiquette & Your Online Reputation
What is digital etiquette?
Digital etiquette (often called "netiquette") refers to the basic rules of conduct you should follow when communicating online or on your phone. Different online societies may have different customs (such as abbreviations or rules), but there are several guidelines that everyone should follow, whether you're emailing your professor or posting comments about a YouTube video.
Overview
Virginia Shea’s book Netiquette, written in 1994, was the first major work that outlined the standards for communicating online. Shea’s first rule of online communication is as true today as it was in 1994: "Remember the human."
What does this mean? As Shea said, this that you ask yourself, "Would I say it to the person's face?" If you wouldn’t, you shouldn’t send it or post it. Anonymous and insulated behind our computers, we can sometimes forget that there are people behind the screen names.
In Netiquette, Shea discussed another very important reason for reconsidering offensive language in email or other comments online: “When you communicate through cyberspace -- via email or on discussion groups -- your words are written. And chances are they're stored somewhere where you have no control over them. In other words, there's a good chance they can come back to haunt you."
Digital etiquette (often called "netiquette") refers to the basic rules of conduct you should follow when communicating online or on your phone. Different online societies may have different customs (such as abbreviations or rules), but there are several guidelines that everyone should follow, whether you're emailing your professor or posting comments about a YouTube video.
Overview
Virginia Shea’s book Netiquette, written in 1994, was the first major work that outlined the standards for communicating online. Shea’s first rule of online communication is as true today as it was in 1994: "Remember the human."
What does this mean? As Shea said, this that you ask yourself, "Would I say it to the person's face?" If you wouldn’t, you shouldn’t send it or post it. Anonymous and insulated behind our computers, we can sometimes forget that there are people behind the screen names.
In Netiquette, Shea discussed another very important reason for reconsidering offensive language in email or other comments online: “When you communicate through cyberspace -- via email or on discussion groups -- your words are written. And chances are they're stored somewhere where you have no control over them. In other words, there's a good chance they can come back to haunt you."
Why should you care about netiquette?
The main reason to care about netiquette: There are consequences for others and consequences for yourself. Treating someone unfairly, harshly, or cruelly online can be just as damaging as doing so in person. In cases of cyberbullying or online harassment, it can be even worse; since the comments are posted online and are viewable by the whole world, the threatened person often feels that there is no escape from it.
You probably heard quite a bit about cyberbullying in middle or high school. However, once the participants turn 18, it’s not called cyberbullying any more. It’s called harassment, which is a criminal offense. In serious enough situations, comments can be tracked back to the user’s IP address, the unique number that identifies a computer and its location. Text threats can often be tracked back to the user's cell phone. While it’s not likely that you will ever face such an issue, it’s important to remember that real-world consequences can follow online actions.
If you receive any type of digital message (e.g., emails, texts, comments in online forums) that make you feel personally threatened, you should not ignore it. Contact the Public Safety department at your school, and file a police report, if necessary. Also, online and text harassment violates the terms of service of most cell phone companies and Internet service providers, so it is important to contact them as well.
For additional information on using technology responsibly, see Digital Rights and Responsibilities.
You probably heard quite a bit about cyberbullying in middle or high school. However, once the participants turn 18, it’s not called cyberbullying any more. It’s called harassment, which is a criminal offense. In serious enough situations, comments can be tracked back to the user’s IP address, the unique number that identifies a computer and its location. Text threats can often be tracked back to the user's cell phone. While it’s not likely that you will ever face such an issue, it’s important to remember that real-world consequences can follow online actions.
If you receive any type of digital message (e.g., emails, texts, comments in online forums) that make you feel personally threatened, you should not ignore it. Contact the Public Safety department at your school, and file a police report, if necessary. Also, online and text harassment violates the terms of service of most cell phone companies and Internet service providers, so it is important to contact them as well.
For additional information on using technology responsibly, see Digital Rights and Responsibilities.
Are you protecting your online reputation?
Now that you are in college and will soon be entering the work force, it is more important than ever that you guard your online reputation. Why is that, you ask? Well, think about how easy it is to find out about people online. You can usually figure out where someone lives, goes to school, and works, with only a few minutes on Google or Facebook. Often you can find pictures, as well. Just as you may have searched for people in the past, others - employers, clients, and maybe even your potential soul mate - may likely search for you in the future. This is why it’s so important to make sure that your online reputation won’t embarrass you or damage your credibility!
Video: Building a positive online presence
This video details the steps you can take to ensure that you promote a positive, responsible online image.
Video: An online reputation nightmare
In this video, Anderson Cooper talks with a woman whose business, reputation, and personal life were destroyed by a malicious cyberstalker. She shares some very good advice and talks about why a good online reputation is important.
Additional Resources
Netiquette quiz:
Netiquette Quiz: One way to represent yourself positively online is to practice good netiquette. How much do you know? About.com has a two-level netiquette quiz to test your knowledge:
Links:
Blogging Junction: How To Delete Tweets: If you have some old tweets that you'd like to get rid of, this will help you learn how to do it.
Facebook Privacy Settings: This page will give you an overview of the different types of privacy settings you can set for your Facebook page.
Reputation.com: Many public figures and business owners use this site to monitor their online reputations.
What Not To Tweet: 10 Ways to Commit Social Media Suicide: This is an entertaining but informative blog post with advice on what not to tweet.
Facebook Privacy Settings: This page will give you an overview of the different types of privacy settings you can set for your Facebook page.
Reputation.com: Many public figures and business owners use this site to monitor their online reputations.
What Not To Tweet: 10 Ways to Commit Social Media Suicide: This is an entertaining but informative blog post with advice on what not to tweet.