10 Core Rules of Netiquette

Effective communication is key to success in online education, and that's where the term "netiquette" comes in. Netiquette, which is portmanteau of "net" and "etiquette", refers to using courtesy and politeness when communicating with others online.

What is netiquette? Shea defined netiquette as "a network etiquette, the do's and dont's of online communication. Netiquette covers both common courtesy online and the informal ‘rules of the road’ of cyberspace.” Netiquette or Online Etiquette is a list of rules for online behavior that promotes appropriate and courteous behavior. These rules are important because they help you understand what is socially acceptable when working and collaborating online. They promote communication skills, prevent miscommunications, and help you understand what is socially acceptable when working and collaborating online.

The 10 core rules of netiquette include.

1. Remember the Human When talking electronically, whether by email, instant chat, discussion board, text, or other means, follow the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Keep in mind that your written comments are read by actual individuals who deserve to be treated with respect. "Would I be happy with this if someone else wrote it to me?" ask yourself before pressing "send" or "submit."

2. Be Ethical/ Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life What we do online, like any other decision we make, has ethical repercussions. These ethical actions are not always related to the law, but they do reveal your ethical stances online. Make sure that what you are preaching online is the same as what you are doing in real life.

3. Know where you are in cyberspace Netiquette varies from website to website. What is acceptable in one environment is not acceptable in another. For example, the way you behave on a devotional live will be very different to how you behave on a social network like Facebook.

4. Respect other people's time Shea (2011) argues "it's your responsibility to ensure that the time they spend reading your posting isn't wasted". You must also keep in mind that everyone is busy and has it's own battle to win so you must think before you disturb or send a message to someone.

5. Make yourself look good Be careful what you share online, avoid sharing illegal, embarrassing and inappropriate post. Always make sure that anything you write and share is grammatically proper and clear. It is difficult for people to read your work if it is not adequately communicated.

6. Share Expert Knowledge The majority of online services are built on the notion of sharing. You have something to contribute if you are knowledgeable in a particular field. If you share what you know, it will benefit other users. As part of this, you can share both positive and negative experiences. If you've made any mistakes, discussing them can help others from making the same mistakes.

7. Keep disagreement healthy Disagreements are an inevitable, normal, and healthy part of relating to other people. There are disagreements can be about heated issues like politics, religion and philosophy or they can be relatively trivial. When involved in any such a debate, it is important to be respectful of other people involved. The goal of this netiquette is to understand the other person's perspective or viewpoint to find a common ground and mutual understanding so that both can move forward.

8. Respect other people's privacy An important netiquette rule is respecting the privacy of others. Example for respect other people's privacy netiquette is Don’t read other people’s messages, mails and etc without there permission, it’s invading their privacy. Privacy is about respecting individuals. If a person has a reasonable desire to keep something private, it is disrespectful to ignore that person’s wishes without a compelling reason to do so.

9. Don't abuse your power There are people in cyberspace who have more "power" than others, just as there are people in real life. They are more knowledgeable about technology or have years of experience with a specific skill or subject. Maybe you're the one with all this knowledge and power! Remember: just because you know more or have more authority than others does not give you the right to take advantage of them nor doesn't mean that you will take all the responsibilities. Consider Rule 1: Remember the human.

10. Be forgiving of others mistake. It's normal to make mistakes especially if you are new in the internet environment. Our elders grew with the absence of media and it is very normal for them to made mistakes. As a daughter or son you must be forgiving of their mistakes and it's your responsibility as an expert of that field to educate them.