The Concise Guide to Online Etiquette- Part 1
The Concise Guide to Online Etiquette: Why netiquette is essential in the modern world is a much-needed conversation starter. Knowing that technology has completely changed how we communicate with others (especially post-COVID19) requires a new set of etiquette to safely navigate this online world.
By OLUWATOSIN OLABODE
Conversations around digital wellness cannot be overemphasized in the 21st century. We live in a time of unprecedented access to information at the flick of a phone or the press of a button. Digital wellness, according to the Digital Wellness Institute, “is a way of life, while using technology, that promotes optimal health and well-being in which body, mind, and spirit are integrated by the individual to live more fully within the human, natural, and digital communities.”
All signs point to an ever-increasing necessity and reliance on digital tools and the increasing demands placed on them. Especially considering that we are now a merge of the online and offline world. The danger therein is that we can have some very significant unintended consequences of this increase in technological dependence and usage. The focus and need for The Concise Guide To Online Etiquette was driven by the increasing number of young people spending a lot of time on their digital devices (mobile phones and laptops) and being on social networking sites a lot.
The Safer Internet Day slogan says, “together for a better internet.” An insightful expression of why we exist online. Young people interacting within the digital space must be able to trust and be trusted. Once the internet and technology no longer provides support structures, and or when the internet and technology become hindrances to us getting support structures, then there is a problem. Technology and the internet exist to help facilitate our goals and not to block, and or derail us from achieving those objectives.
“The focus and need for The Concise Guide To Online Etiquette was driven by the increasing number of young people spending a lot of time on their digital devices (mobile phones and laptops) and being on social networking sites.“
As stated earlier, we now exist as a merge of the physical and digital world, and according to the recent Digital 2020 Reports by We Are Social, the average internet user spends 6 hours and 43 minutes online each day. This implies that if we can sleep for about 8 hours daily, the average human spends over 100 days (in 365 days)- 40% of their waking hours online? (Kemp, 2020). This is quite understandable with how accessible the internet and tech is becoming with each passing day.
If we are spending this much time within our various digital spaces, it then beckons upon us to understand how this time is affecting our optimal health and wellbeing. Whether in the positive or in the negative. For young people, teenagers especially, there isn’t a well spelled out guideline on how to interact online amidst all the euphoria of being able to connect with old friends while making new ones, and doing everything else that they are capable of doing online.
How then do we build empathy, kindness and respect, such that the online world doesn’t become toxic to these young people? And when it is, how can they avoid or get out of it?
How do we make it a place for them to trust and be able to be trusted? Click Here to Find Out.
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