Have you ever wondered how you should behave, interact and engage digitally with others? Have you ever thought of netiquette – etiquette online? here are two pointers among many you can consider. But first, this is how netiquette is defined, the basic rules of conduct user technology should follow to be responsible citizens online. A simple definition isn’t it?

Point one: Be a good online citizen

The advent of the internet gave us a very unique opportunity, we were presented with an option to choose a new identity. The web was a fascinating innovation connecting the world’s information, yet behind it were different people making it possible. Because of these people, you will find human characteristics on the web, names in the form of aliases on social pages and also web addresses. The goal is to uniquely code each set of information as well as to help the whole system work.

This created an online citizen, which today we are encouraging to be a good online citizen when it comes to digital etiquette. behave in a way a normal human would in the real world. Be respectful, be safe and think before you post and communicate. After all, we are interacting with other humans digitally.

Point two: Present your best side online

A human has two sides the good and the bad, and these have different triggers. Usually, certain situations make us choose which side to portray, when comfortable and around friends and family the default may be the good side, however when around rivalry and enemies the default may switch to bad. Online there is a degree of anonymity and this presents us with an opportunity to again choose which idea to portray.

It is highly encouraged to always portray your best side. Especially when you don’t agree with the person on the other side, remain professional, polite and respectful. Naturally, that’s your good side unless otherwise. This is for one reason and one fact only – your online trail can not be erased. Once it’s on the web deleting it can be difficult.

The internet is growing and evolving as it ages. It’s becoming a hard-core part of our life and to some extent detecting our successes and failures. It is a good thing to invest well in netiquette so that we as well grow with new technology.