What Is Netiquette?

Date First Published: 25th July 2023

Topic: Computer Systems

Subtopic: Ethics & Sustainability

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty: Medium

Difficulty Level: 5/10

CONTENTS

Examples Of Netiquette
Importance Of Netiquette
Where Did The Term 'Netiquette' Come From?

Learn about what netiquette is in this article.

Short for internet etiquette. Netiquette describes acceptable behaviour when communicating online. The anonymity of online communication has led to problems with people misbehaving online, like sending offensive messages to other people or violating their privacy. Netiquette attempts to solve these problems, just like etiquette is a code of polite behaviour in society. Netiquette can apply to chatrooms, forums, blogging, comment boards, emails, and other forms of online communication.

Examples Of Netiquette

Although there is no official list or code for acceptable behaviour on the internet, it is still important to behave appropriately on the internet. Below are 20 examples of rules to follow for good netiquette:

Do not send personal abuse or threatening messages to others.
Do not spam message other people by sending large amounts of unsolicited emails.
Do not post copyrighted material that you don't have permission to share.
Keep in mind that posts are public and can be seen by people all around the world. Before posting, always consider whether it is something you wouldn't mind if everyone saw.
Talk as if you were talking to someone in real life. For example, is something that you would post something that you would say to someone else in real life? If not, consider refraining from posting it.
Respect other people's privacy by not revealing their personal information, photos, or videos they may not want posted online.
Do not use offensive or insulting language or swear at others.
Make sure that your posts are related to the topic being discussed on the forum or social media post and avoid going off-topic.
Don't be an internet troll by repeatedly harassing or annoying other people in forums, chatrooms, or social media platforms.
Never spread false rumours about other people on social media sites, forums, or chatrooms.
Don't ignore legitimate requests or questions from other people that may require a response. It is only polite to take the time to respond to someone who has taken the time to contact you.
Be prepared to apologise. Sometimes, we may say things we regret. Say so, then forgive.
Treat others as you would have them treat you, even if they are new to the community. We were all new once.
Give praise when due. Everyone likes to feel appreciated when they have helped someone online.
Don't feed the trolls. Instead, it is best to ignore and limit contact with people that purposefully cause disruption.
Avoid typing in ALL CAPS. This can be annoying, difficult to read, and make it look like you are shouting.
Be careful when using jokes and sarcasm as they don't come across as well in writing as when face to face. What you say could be misinterpreted by others and cause offence.
Never post links to viruses and malware.
Keep messages, emails, and posts short and don't make them too long. Making them too long can flood comment boards, forums, and chatrooms.
Never pretend to be someone else to mock them or deceive others.

Importance Of Netiquette

When communicating with people on the internet, you should keep in mind that you are communicating with real people, not automated bots or computers. Although the internet provides a sense of anonymity since you cannot see or hear who you are talking to, it doesn't make it okay to misbehave or post offensive or threatening comments. If you don't follow netiquette when posting online, you are still the one posting the content and if discovered by other people, it can harm your reputation and digital footprint. Posts usually remain on the server and could be used as evidence against you in the future. Therefore, maintaining a good netiquette will help you positively increase your online presence in the long run.

Where Did The Term 'Netiquette' Come From?

The term 'netiquette' has been around before the World Wide Web was around, The term was first used in posts of the satirical "Dear Emily" news columns in 1983. At the time, text-based communications, including Gopher, Telnet, and FTP from educational and research authorities dominated internet traffic, whilst commercial usage of public posting was uncommon.