Digital etiquette

What is digital etiquette?

Digital etiquette, or "netiquette" (network etiquette) is a recommended set of rules for appropriate online behaviour when communicating with others to make the online world a better place for everyone.

Practising good digital etiquette not only shapes how you're perceived online but also helps create a safer and more respectful digital community. By understanding the impact of your actions, you can contribute to a more positive and inclusive digital environment.

Many of these principles reflect the same expectations we follow in face-to-face interactions.

Key digital etiquette rules

• Remember the Human: Never say something online you wouldn't say in person.
• Professional Communication: Use clear and concise language in university and work emails, avoid slang, and check for errors.
• Privacy & Sharing: Ask for permission before forwarding private emails or sharing photos of others.
• Respectful Tone: Avoid using capital letters excessively (which acts as shouting) and be careful with humour.
• Think Before Posting: Reflect on who you want to view the content before sharing digitally, as content can be permanent and shared.
• Video Call Manners: Arrive on time, mute your microphone when not speaking, and switch your camera on if required. 

Why digital etiquette matters

How you act online shapes the kind of digital citizen you are.

Being mindful of how you behave online helps create a positive and respectful digital space. Because messages and posts don’t include tone of voice or body language, it’s easy for things to be misunderstood, sometimes leading to unnecessary conflict. 

Even though you’re communicating through a smart phone or laptop, you’re still talking to another human being. Before hitting send, ask yourself how your message might come across and how you’d feel if you received it.

Treat others online with the same respect and consideration you’d expect yourself.

Different spaces, different rules

Digital etiquette rules can vary across websites and platforms. What's acceptable in one environment changes for another. 

For example, how you communicate on a university discussion forum is likely to be very different from how you post on social media platforms like TikTok. 

If you're unsure of the etiquette for a new platform or online community, watch how people communicate and interact with each other. Once you’ve got a sense of what's acceptable and how things work, you’ll feel more confident about joining in and contributing yourself.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is aggressive or intimidating behaviour towards someone else on digital devices such as:

• phones
• laptops
• tablets.

It happens across platforms such as:

• social media
• messaging services
• online gaming.

It involves sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, or untrue content to embarrass or harass others. It can sometimes leave a lasting public record.