14. Communicating with others online
How confident do you feel about communicating with other people online? This may be on social networking sites or forums. Would you be confident commenting on other people’s opinions? Do you understand the importance of observing online etiquette (netiquette)?
Communicating online requires us to have a range of interpersonal skills that are specific to digital environments. It can be difficult to have conversations online with people you don’t know, who you can’t see and who can’t see you. You can learn how to improve the way you communicate online, whether in writing or using audio and video meeting software. This will help to increase your confidence in a digital environment.
Social conventions/guidelines that are specific to online communication exist to ensure that online communication is not misinterpreted or taken out of context. They also ensure that a level of respect and courtesy is observed when communicating in online communities.
When you write anything, it’s useful to identify who your audience is. You can then adapt your style of writing to be most effective and accessible for that audience. One example is knowing whether to write in a formal or informal style. Your choice of style will also be affected by the medium you choose to communicate in (blog, online article, social networking, etc.).