18. Digital citizens and netiquette
The term ‘digital citizen’ refers to person who develops the skills and knowledge to effectively use the Internet and other digital technology, especially in order to participate responsibly in social and civic activities.
(Dictionary.com, 2015)
Digital citizenship is about using technology for positive benefit. It includes:
- handling yourself appropriately and ethically in a digital environment
- being aware of the impact of your actions on the digital communities you are part of
- contributing to the community in a mature and responsible way.
An essential aspect of digital citizenship is being able to communicate online. The notion of ‘netiquette’ refers to the guidelines for appropriate behaviour when communicating with others online in writing. The conventions are likely to vary, depending on the context in which your online communication is taking place. There are some general principles to bear in mind:
- Ensure that what your say is appropriate to the context, clear, relevant, to the point and courteous.
- Present your opinions sensitively and acknowledge the other person’s point of view, even if this is different to your own.
- Think about who you are communicating with and adopt the appropriate tone, for example, a friend, colleague or an official in an organisation.
- Communicate your emotions – this can help other people understand your perspective. This is particularly important for written communication where others cannot see your face or body language to gauge your mood. Many online environments have smileys, emoticons or emojis (more standardises versions of emoticons that work between multiple devices) you can use to show how you are feeling, which might be appropriate to use in informal communications.
- Be aware of cultural differences, particularly when communicating with people from other countries. Check whether there is anything in your words, or the way you communicate, that could cause offence.
- Remember not to write in capitals and bold letters, as this may be interpreted as shouting.
These principles imply that you should treat others you communicate with online as you would want them to treat you.