How to Follow Internet Etiquette

Internet etiquette, or "netiquette," is a set of rules that govern the manners that all Internet users should follow. Netiquette is necessary to keep you safe while you are on the Internet. It also helps to protect everyone else who is using the Internet.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Say and do things online that you want everyone in the world to see. Emails and other correspondence can be intercepted and rebroadcast. For example, if you send pictures in an email, make sure that they are appropriate to show the world.

2. Be honest. Lying to people on the Internet can get them and you in trouble. Make sure that you always tell the truth about your age and gender.

3. Protect privacy. This means that you keep all personal information private. This includes your information and anyone else's. Home addresses, birth dates, email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers and any other personal information should be carefully guarded.

4. Stay polite. Typing mean emails or trying to pressure people into doing things online is a definite breach of netiquette. Treat people online in the same way that you want to be treated.

5. Send emails and other electronic correspondence only as needed. Internet etiquette stipulates that you should send correspondence on a need-to-know basis. For example, sending an email to business and personal contacts when you update your personal Web page is unnecessary. It would be more appropriate to send the email only to your personal contacts.

6. Resist the temptation to participate in chain mail. Having an in-box full of chain mail can be very irritating to the recipient and may lead to someone flagging your email address as spam.

7. Pay attention to your language and the perception of your comments. Explicit language or comments posted on the Internet will, more than likely, be seen and read by children. Everything you post on the Internet should be family-friendly.