The Etiquette of the Internet
A better understanding of what netiquette is and why its important.
Netiquette is a highly important aspect that everyone who uses the internet should understand and follow. It is especially important for those who post content and share their opinions with others on the web. The basic definition of netiquette is to respect other people’s viewpoints on the internet and uphold a certain standard of common courtesy when communicating with others on a online discussion group. Furthermore, netiquette outlines a set of rules and practices that ought to be followed in order to create a comfortable and appropriate working and social environment for everyone on the internet Website source: Netiquette. The basic rules for netiquette are not very difficult to follow or understand and they ultimately reinforce the notion: treat others the way you would want to be treated.
After reviewing and reading over the BBC website discussing netiquette, Website source: Netiquette it became clear that following the list of basic rules on the website will result in the most courteous and respectable behaviour possible. One of the rules is to refrain from harassing and personally attacking other people with which you disagree with. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion whether you agree with it or not. Furthermore, just because an individual thinks what someone is saying is conceptually wrong, does not give that individual the right to threaten or call that person names. At the end of the day, we all want to feel safe and not in fear of being physically attacked from something as insignificant as an online disagreement.
Another important practice I feel others should follow when posting in an online discussion group is remember that your posts are public. This is very, very important as practically anyone can view, screenshot, or photograph conversations between people online. Do not say anything that could be considered detrimental to your reputation or stature. When applying for jobs or even while you have a job, your employer will typically search your name on the web and come across your social media accounts, as well as any website or forum that has your name affiliated to it. Employers do this to ensure that all the nice and competent things you said about yourself during your job interview are in fact true. If the employer or hiring manger comes across anything he/she does not not deem to be appropriate, the hiring manger could easily think twice about hiring you and give the job to the next best candidate.
After reading an article from the Business New Daily website, Website Source: Business New Daily I discovered that 70% of all employers now use social media to screen job candidates during their hiring process. This also means that employers likely do a general search on the internet as well, which could very well lead them to any online public discussion groups. Therefore, creating a positive online persona and removing all content that could be considered damaging to one's reputation, helps to promote a safe and employer-friendly web.
There are many other important aspects of netiquette such as not posting copyrighted material, writing clearly and avoiding the use of slang, and not spamming products or services on websites, as most of them have specific rules with advertising. To conclude, its crucial to leave a positive impression of yourself online and to understand that a bad reputation online can have even worse consequences in the real world.
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