Netiquette: 5 Rules of the Road for Navigating the Information Superhighway
- Feb 3, 2016
- 4 min read
Did you know that you have a doppelganger that looks and even thinks just like you?
According to a recent NPR podcast, we live among our "second self" that resides on the internet. Our digital presence depicts our analog identity through these digital dopplegangers. While some doppelganger depictions may represent a better version of ourselves, others are so raw that they really should be hidden. Knowing what you should share, who you are sharing it to (and who owns it), and how your second self should behave on the web could cost you your job. Follow the rules below to learn how to maintain an acceptable online presence.
Rule #1: Stay safe and protect yourself
Just as you would lock your doors and put on your seat belt when your driving, it is necessary to caution yourself when surfing the web. Your personal information is publicly available if you allow everyone to access it. So, never share passwords (even these ones), use virus protection, and be careful who you give your information to. Young girls are at risk of being preyed upon on the web from impersonators every day, while the older generation may be susceptible to phishing scams. However, just because you're a true digital native, that doesn't mean that you're completely safe either.
Remember that one time in college when you got so drunk you spent the night barfing in a bathroom stall at a Subway? You might not remember, but Alex, who tagged you in five photos napping in a puddle of your own puke along with 200 of your Facebook friends sure do. If your privacy settings are completely public, you can count on future employers to be able to view it too.
Even if you untagged your photos and made your pictures private, you can't get your discretion (and arguably your dignity) back once it's been published on the web. Which brings us to our next rule...
Rule #2: Don't say anything that you can't take back.
This includes spelling errors, so don't forget to proofread! Over the weekend, the Twittersphere was ablaze with reactions and retweets of Kanye West's "Twitter beef" with Wiz Khalifa. Kanye went on a 20-something tweet rant dissing Wiz Khalifa's music (and complementing his pants) because he thought Wiz was insulting his wife. It was at this exact moment that Kanye knew: he goofed.
Realizing he misread Wiz's tweets, Kanye quickly deleted his tweets. But of course, the internet remembers. Screenshots don't lie.
Rule 3: Be yourself, but find balance
Okay, so turns out you can't diss other rappers on Twitter, even if you're Kanye West and speaking your mind is just part of your personality. The key to authentically representing an appropriate online presence is by balancing your content with personality and professionalism. You're still allowed to have opinions, likes, and dislikes, you just have to manage what you publish carefully and objectively. Luckily for you, there's an app for that...
Rule 4: Amend your online presence according to which social media platform you are using
You're a social butterfly, so naturally you have an account on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, Reddit, two on Twitter and six on Gmail. So, what's the point if you're going to post the same content? Each platform serves a different purposes, ergo, each platform a different audience. Would you share the same cute puppy video on Facebook on LinkedIn? Would you choose the same LinkedIn profile picture as your Tinder picture?. So, examine the differences in each platform and learn to speak the language, whether it's characters, pictures, or videos.
Peep the infographic below, provided by Leverage (2015) for reference.
Rule 5: Learn when to unplug and take time to recharge
Don't be that person on that table constantly tweeting ever five seconds about microagressions or snapchating your entire day. The real world is where you truly discover what it means to be social, and social media is no substitute for the real deal. Especially do not go on your phone throughout dinner, it's simply disrepecful. Unless, of course you're taking a photo for your Instagram food blog #phoneeatsfirst
BONUS RULE:
aka The Golden Rule: Treat others the way you'd like to be treated
This rule is a bonus rule because it is often implied! Just because you are behind the screen, miles away from physical interaction, does not mean that your words do not have an emotional affect on a victim. Cyberbullying is taken just as seriously as offline bullying. Think of the internet as a community, where everyone contributes knowledge and their expertise to enrich the minds of others. Not everyone in the world has the right to access the web. Don't abuse your privilege.
All things considered, that internet is a dynamic and valuable resource for learning about anything, including yourself! Get creative with what you can do and have fun!
Think I missed any rules? Comment below with your thoughts, I'd love to hear them.
Comments