Online Etiquette for Students to be Good Digital Citizens
Becoming a good citizen no longer just entails the physical, outside world; it now involved the digital world as well. And today, being a good digital citizen is more than being safe while accessing the internet. Whether it’s surfing the web or using different apps, there are certain do’s and don’ts to remember so that you do not offend other people online. Here is some online etiquette for students in becoming good digital citizens.
The Digital to Do’s
All in all, the basic online etiquette for students is to be careful in what they say, share, and post on the internet. Whether it’s on their personal social media accounts or as an anonymous user in a forum, they need to mind what they say for safety and ethical reasons.
Treat Others with Respect
The first thing students need to remember is to treat others with respect. Simply remember to treat others the way you want to be treated. This is the most basic online etiquette for students and is the backbone of everything else.
Be nice, mindful, and grateful for everything. Be polite to others, express gratitude when someone is helpful, and be truthful.
Stay Safe Online
Being safe on the internet deserves an entire article in itself. It is very important not to give away personal information online to people, websites, or apps, that you do not trust. Doing so can greatly harm yourself or those close to you.
Be Mindful of the Rules
In using online services such as social media and other applications, there are certain rules to follow. Good online etiquette for students dictate that one should take the time to learn these rules by heart and stick to them. There is a reason why these rules are implemented, and they are for the user’s safety.
Stay Vigilant
And of course, as a digital citizen, everyone should be vigilant. Always remember that there are people online who have ill-intentions. Be wary and observant of things so that you do not fall into their traps. And if you do find something suspicious, remember to report this to the proper authorities or to administrators so that they can do something about it.
Online etiquette for students not only means keeping themselves safe, but others as well.
The Digital Don’ts
If there are things to do, naturally there are things that you should not do. Below is a guide of things to avoid in order to be a good digital citizen.
Watch what you Say
If you want to post or say something online, think about it first. Based on online etiquette for students, ask yourself if you can say what you are about to post in person. If this is something you feel is too sensitive, too mean, or just plain too much to say in person, then it is probably not good to post it online as well since it can do more harm than good.
Ask for Permission in Sharing Content
There is a lot of content online and most of them are made by someone for their own website, account, or social profile. If it bears sharing, do so but only under certain guidelines.
- You have the permission of the content owner to share it
- If the content is posted as public in social media, then there is explicit permission to share. But you do not have the right to alter it or remove the name of the owner.
- Do not share a piece of content to make it look like you created it.
Making sure that you have the right to share content is important when it comes to online etiquette for students. Sharing without permission can lead to violation of copyright laws.
Don’t Spend all your time Online
Last and certainly not least, students should remember not to spend all their time online. While the internet provides amazing and almost endless information, people still need proper human interaction. The real world provides more amazing stories and adventures to be had.