NETIQUETTE, DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

What is Netiquette? Simply stated, it's network etiquette -- that is, the etiquette of cyberspace. And "etiquette" means "the forms required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be required in social or official life." In other words, Netiquette is a set of rules for behaving properly online.

The Core Rules of Netiquette:

The Core Rules of Netiquette are excerpted from the book Netiquette by Virginia Shea.

• Rule 1: Remember the Human

• Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life

• Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace

• Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth

• Rule 5: Make yourself look good online

• Rule 6: Share expert knowledge

• Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control

• Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy

• Rule 9: Don't abuse your power

• Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes

Netiquette and Digital Citizenship

Nine Themes of Digital Citizenship

 Digital citizenship can be defined as the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use.  

1.   Digital Access:   full electronic participation in society. 

Technology users need to be aware that not everyone has the same opportunities when it comes to technology.  Working toward equal digital rights and supporting electronic access is the starting point of Digital Citizenship. Digital exclusion makes it difficult to grow as a society increasingly using these tools.

2.   Digital Commerce:   electronic buying and selling of goods. 

Technology users need to understand that a large share of market economy is being done electronically. Legitimate and legal exchanges are occurring, but the buyer or seller needs to be aware of the issues associated with it. 

3.   Digital Communication:   electronic exchange of information. 

One of the significant changes within the digital revolution is a person’s ability to communicate with other people.

4.   Digital Literacy:   process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology. 

While schools have made great progress in the area of technology infusion, much remains to be done. A renewed focus must be made on what technologies must be taught as well as how it should be used. New technologies are finding their way into the work place that are not being used in schools (e.g., Videoconferencing, online sharing spaces such as wikis).

5. Digital Etiquette:   electronic standards of conduct or procedure.

Technology users often see this area as one of the most pressing problems when dealing with Digital Citizenship. We recognize inappropriate behavior when we see it, but before people use technology they do not learn digital etiquette (i.e., appropriate conduct).  

6.   Digital Law:   electronic responsibility for actions and deeds 

Digital law deals with the ethics of technology within a society. Unethical use manifests itself in form of theft and/or crime. Ethical use manifests itself in the form of abiding by the laws of society. 

7.   Digital Rights & Responsibilities:   those freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world.

Just as in the American Constitution where there is a Bill of Rights, there is a basic set of rights extended to every digital citizen. Digital citizens have the right to privacy, free speech, etc. Basic digital rights must be addressed, discussed, and understood in the digital world.  With these rights also come responsibilities as well.  Users must help define how the technology is to be used in an appropriate manner.  In a digital society these two areas must work together for everyone to be productive. 

8.   Digital Health & Wellness:   physical and psychological well-being in a digital technology world.

Eye safety, repetitive stress syndrome, and sound ergonomic practices are issues that need to be addressed in a new technological world.  Beyond the physical issues are those of the psychological issues that are becoming more prevalent such as Internet addiction.  Users need to be taught that there are inherent dangers of technology. Digital Citizenship includes a culture where technology users are taught how to protect themselves through education and training. 

9.   Digital Security (self-protection):   electronic precautions to guarantee safety. 

In any society, there are individuals who steal, deface, or disrupt other people. The same is true for the digital community. It is not enough to trust other members in the community for our own safety. In our own homes, we put locks on our doors and fire alarms in our houses to provide some level of protection. The same must be true for the digital security. We need to have virus protection, backups of data, and surge control of our equipment. As responsible citizens, we must protect our information from outside forces that might cause disruption or harm.

Respect, Educate and Protect (REPs)

These elements have also been organized under the principles of respect, educate and protect. Most everyone understands that to keep a healthy body it is beneficial to be active, and one way is to begin a workout routine. Often work- outs have the person go through several repetitions, or reps, to strengthen muscles. With the increase in technology in the hands of everyone, especially your kids, parents are in the need of a new workout, and new REPs. There are two aspects to each of the REPs: one focuses on an individual’s use of technology, and the other is users’ responsibility to do the same for others (which helps users to focus on empathy for others as well). The principles of respect, educate, and protect each include elements to help parents and children discuss the issues and ideas that are happening with respect to technology.