Post #3: Me and Internet

Implementing Netiquette Practices in Social Media

In a general sense, implementing these practices could mean two things; it could mean regulating yourself on the internet, making sure that you are carefully choosing your words and thinking before you post. Another thing it could mean is that if you manage a community or are in a community setting, it could be the practice of setting the boundaries and making sure the community abides by them.

Practicing Netiquette as an Individual 

On paper, this is simple to do. However, many of us post or say things on the internet without considering the consequences, which could range from little to none, to considerable; whether these outcomes are good or bad depends on what you post. The biggest things to remind ourselves are that your future could hinge on what you post or reveal about yourself on social media. Along with the rules above, you can do your part to be a good internet citizen by refraining from gossiping, avoiding plagiarism and citing your claims, and avoiding spamming or "flooding" (the practice of repeatedly sending messages in a live chat setting)

If you ask me how I would implement (or instill) "netiquette" with myself, I would respond with the notion that I would use civil language, be succinct, et cetera (i.e. common sense; see general guidelines written above)

Enforcing Netiquette in a Community Setting

These days, fostering a community is easier than ever. But with community management comes responsibilities; if you're the one running the show, it is ultimately up to you to regulate your community and make sure that your base remains civil with one another.

If you pose the question to me of how I would manage a community's netiquette; I would resort to more technical methods such as detecting excessive use of caps-lock (shouting) or profanity. However, using automated methods is not perfect. They can potentially result in making a situation worse if they are not used with care, which is why I will always first resort to human review (with trusted staff members) of comments and posts.