Digital Society and Netizen
Sammarth Kumar
These days, most of the tasks we do are done using digital technologies. We chat online, shop
online, learn online, and so much more.
As a result, we have quite the online presence. Therefore, in order to maintain a certain code
of conduct as one would do so in regular life,
there are certain net etiquettes or netiquettes that have been created to ensure that
everyone is a responsible digital citizen (netizen).
1. Net Etiquettes
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Ethics:
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Copyright Violation: Do not use copyrighted information without proper
license i.e. permission of the creator/owner.
Creators such as Q-Programming have put a lot of effort into sharing their
content and hence one should
respect these efforts and not use materials without proper authorization.
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Sharing Information: With access to unlimited online resources, we should
share useful information with others.
However, make sure the information you share is accurate and from a reputable
source. A lot of fake information is spread
nowadays which can lead to consequences.
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Respect:
- Privacy: Respect the privacy of your fellow netizens. Good digital
citizens
understand that everyone has the same rights and freedoms. If someone shares
private information with you
DO NOT send it to anyone else without the sender's consent.
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Diversity: Public forums and chat sites have great diversity in
contributing members. Make sure you respect
other people's cultures and beliefs and expect that they do the same for you.
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Responsibility:
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Cyber Bullying: Remember that anything you say online to someone has the
same effect as if you say it to their face.
Many people say offensive and hurtful things online thinking that they can't be
held accountable. However, remember
that everything you say is part of your digital footprint and can be easily
traced back to you. Therefore, be careful what you say on public forums as you
can get
in trouble, but also, most importantly, you can cause harm to others.
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Trolling: Internet trolls are people who intentionally disrupt
harmony on online platforms.
They thrive on attention and hence you should not fuel them by supporting them
or rebutting. Trolls can be like online bullies
they have fun when they make someone react to their comments. The best thing you
can do is ignore them.
2. Communication Etiquettes
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Precision:
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Time: Everyone is busy and therefore we should not waste our
valuable time on unnecessary emails and comments. Similarly, do not expect
others to respond to you instantly as they are also preoccupied.
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Data Limits: Avoid sending large files over the internet as they use a
lot of data and bandwidth,
which come with their respective costs. You should make it a habit to send
compressed files or links, using various
free services.
-
Politeness:
While talking to someone online in a synchronous/real-time or
asynchronous format, be polite and
non-aggressive. Do not use slurs or abuses even if you get worked up.
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Credibility:
As discussed in a previous point, make sure whatever you write on the internet is
accurate and fact-checked.
Spreading false information leads to unnecessary confusion.
3. Social Media Etiquettes
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Security:
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Passwords: Choose strong passwords to safeguard against data leaks or
hackers.
Use a combination of numbers, alphabets, allowed symbols and cases to create a
password which
is tough to crack. Also, avoid sharing your account information with others.
-
Friends: Social networking sites allow us to talk to anyone else on the
platform.
Be wary, however, as not everyone is friendly. Some people may even have
malicious intentions.
Be careful of who you interact with online and only converse with those who you
have met in
real life
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Fake Information: There is a lot of fake information on the internet.
This information
is easily spread via social networking sites. Therefore, when you see something,
make sure it is accurate.
Experienced users are able to distinguish fake news from real news. Those who
don't can verify information from reputed sources.
Although platforms have algorithms to fact check, report any misleading
information to avoid further spread.
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Reliability:
When you are about to upload something to the internet, pause for a moment and think of
the consequences
your actions could have in the future. Once you are sure what you are posting is
acceptable, do so. Remember, as discussed earlier, that even if
you delete an upload, it will still be stored on the service's servers.
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