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- What is Netiquette?<\/a><\/li>\n
- The Importance of Practicing Netiquette And Why it\u2019s Vital for Kids to Learn<\/a><\/li>\n
- Main Netiquette Rules Kids Need to Learn<\/a><\/li>\n
- Additional Netiquette and Online Safety Rules for Kids<\/a><\/li>\n
- FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n
- Why It’s Vital to Teach Your Child the Skill of Netiquette<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What is Netiquette?<\/h2>\n
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fizkes\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
The term \u2018netiquette\u2019 refers to the acceptable or correct way of communicating on the internet and of general online behavior. Basically, it\u2019s the etiquette on the internet and is intended to help ensure online communication is respectful and appropriate.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important to note, however, that while there are some general netiquette rules, there are likely to be variances across different platforms. For example, allowable rules of behavior may be stricter on some websites than others\u2014such as on sites designed specifically for kids.<\/p>\n
The Importance of Practicing Netiquette And Why it\u2019s Vital for Kids to Learn<\/h2>\n
As a set of social conventions designed to help smooth online interactions, not following proper netiquette can cause many problems. The most obvious example is when someone is unintentionally insulted simply because another user didn\u2019t follow the rules of good online etiquette. This could happen if, say, a message was sent from one person to another in which the whole text was written in capitals. The use of capitals in a message indicates that the sender is shouting and could cause offense. But perhaps the sender simply didn\u2019t realize this and therefore broke a basic rule of net etiquette without even realizing they were doing so.<\/p>\n
The rules of netiquette are slippery, and, as adults, we often follow them instinctively. However, this aspect of the online world can be really tricky for kids to navigate, and it\u2019s crucial to give them guidance to ensure their internet experiences are as safe and happy as possible.<\/p>\n
Main Netiquette Rules Kids Need to Learn<\/h2>\n
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YanLev Alexey\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
Take a Moment to Think Before You Type<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s easy for anyone\u2014and especially kids\u2014to get so caught up in what they want to say or their ideas that they type without considering whether their words will be read in the way they mean them to be. Teaching kids to take a moment to think before they type (especially if they\u2019re feeling annoyed or excited) is one of the most important tips you can give them regarding internet etiquette.<\/p>\n
Conduct Yourself Online as You Would in the Real World<\/h3>\n
Another key element of online etiquette is making sure that, just because you\u2019re online, you don\u2019t act in a way that you wouldn\u2019t in the real world. For adults in the workplace, examples would include the use of professional (rather than informal) language when composing emails and following the specific company policy regarding online activity.<\/p>\n
Teach your kids that they need to use the same manners and conduct themselves with the same politeness as they would if they were encountering users offline. It\u2019s important to explain to children that, without the benefit of being able to hear the tone of voice or see body language, it\u2019s easy for messages, comments, or reactions to come across in an unintended way and cause hurt or upset.<\/p>\n
Respect the Privacy of Others<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s crucial that kids understand how important privacy is online\u2014both their own and that of other people. Users should never upload or share videos or images of others unless they\u2019ve first checked and gotten the green light from the individual concerned. Proper etiquette online also means never pressuring or pushing another online user to share personal information if they\u2019re not comfortable doing so.<\/p>\n
When it comes to examples of netiquette, this also makes for a good opportunity to chat with your child about online safety<\/a>. Respecting others\u2019 privacy goes both ways, so speak with your kid about how it\u2019s crucial that their own privacy is respected too: caution your child about never imparting personal details to those they don\u2019t know and trust.<\/p>\n
as part of helping your child stay safe online, a parental control app like Kids360<\/a> is a great option, allowing you to block certain apps, check how long your child is spending on various online platforms, and set screen limit times.<\/p>\n
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Kids360 app<\/p><\/div>\n
Avoid Plagiarism<\/h3>\n
The definition of plagiarism is the taking of someone else\u2019s ideas or work and passing it off as your own. While this may be a little tricky to explain to very young children, older kids\u2014as school students\u2014need to know how important it is to avoid plagiarism to avoid running into trouble with their academic work, now or in the future.<\/p>\n
There are lots of ways to avoid plagiarism. Firstly, always reference any sources or source materials used, and include quotation marks and a citation if you\u2019re directly quoting from a source. Instead of quoting, demonstrate to your child how to paraphrase, in order to present the information in a new way\u2014and of course, if possible, it\u2019s even better to come up with original ideas!<\/p>\n
Finally, many people use an online plagiarism checker tool to ensure they haven\u2019t inadvertently committed this netiquette faux-pas before submitting their work.<\/p>\n
Before Asking a Question, Research<\/h3>\n
Even for adults, it can be easy to fall foul of this guideline! The basic idea of this rule of netiquette is to make sure the answer isn\u2019t already easily available online before asking your forum, network, or platform community a question. This could mean checking the FAQ page of a specific website carefully, looking through an online guideline manual, reading the discussion thread, or simply spending some time doing a little Googling.<\/p>\n
For older kids and teens, show them the basics of good practice when it comes to research and how to ascertain whether the information they pull up online is reliable.<\/p>\n
Check Your Spelling and Grammar<\/h3>\n
Just as for adults, it\u2019s good to instill in kids the importance of trying their best to ensure their grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct when communicating online. As well as helping to make sure there\u2019s no chance of a misunderstanding, this is also useful to the reader, for them to better comprehend what\u2019s being put across.<\/p>\n
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Respect Others\u2019 Time\u2014and Bandwidth<\/h3>\n
Good netiquette means being aware that other people have busy lives (and limited bandwidth), and therefore ensuring that messages are concise and to the point. It also entails checking with someone before sending them a particularly large attachment or a message that contains a link they\u2019ll need to click on to open.<\/p>\n
Be Forgiving and Gracious<\/h3>\n
Just as in the real world, it\u2019s really important to remember that people make mistakes from time to time, including ourselves, and not to be harsh to those who slip up. Those who are new to a forum, group, or another platform, especially, may simply still be learning the ropes, so pointing out small errors is usually unnecessary.<\/p>\n
In cases where you feel the person could use a helping hand or a pointer in the right direction, it\u2019s probably best to send a private message rather than communicate this to the whole group.<\/p>\n
Dealing with Hate Speech<\/h3>\n
What\u2019s the netiquette if you or your child encounter hate speech online\u2014 either directed at yourself, or someone else or put out there in general? It\u2019s important that your child knows to speak with you if anything happens online that makes them feel uneasy or upset.<\/p>\n
When it comes to hate speech, it\u2019s a good idea to report the incident to the relevant website provider\u2014it should subsequently be removed from the platform. Hate speech is illegal, and therefore the website provider has an obligation to take such content down within twenty-four hours of its being reported.<\/p>\n
Reading the Room<\/h3>\n
As we mentioned at the top, the rules of netiquette may flex, depending on the online platform or website. For example, light-hearted banter between forum members might not be appreciated in a serious discussion group dedicated to serious philosophical issues of the day.<\/p>\n
Know Your Emojis<\/h3>\n
Emojis can be a perfect example of how communication misunderstandings can happen in cyberspace. Good netiquette means following certain social conventions when it comes to using emojis as much as it does with standard text messaging. But this can be a minefield. For example, the grinning emoji and the grimacing emoji look very, very similar\u2014and yet using them imparts a completely different reaction. And then there\u2019s when to use emojis, such as the one with hearts for eyes or blowing a kiss\u2014could this give the recipient the wrong idea?<\/p>\n
For kids, simply remind them that it\u2019s about communicating with someone online in the same way as they would in the real world.<\/p>\n
Related: A Guide to Emoji Slang<\/a><\/p>\n
Additional Netiquette and Online Safety Rules for Kids<\/h2>\n
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fizkes\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
Children\u2014and especially younger kids\u2014will need additional rules and boundaries to keep them safe online, and it\u2019s vital that they understand what these are.<\/p>\n
Safeguarding Privacy<\/h3>\n
As a parent, making sure your child doesn\u2019t share personal information online with non-friends or family members is of the utmost importance. As well as keeping their name, address, and telephone number private, kids should also be taught not to share details such as the school or outside clubs they attend.<\/p>\n
You can also help keep your child safe by ensuring they use a neutral nickname in chatrooms so that strangers aren\u2019t given a clue about their identity and\/or location.<\/p>\n
Netiquette and Bots<\/h3>\n
Sometimes, good netiquette is not adhering to the rules of netiquette! It\u2019s the case with bots, which can lurk on some social media platforms, commenting on users\u2019 posts and even creating their own. It\u2019s definitely not against the rules of internet etiquette for your child to ignore these bots and any comments or requests they may make.<\/p>\n
Be Inclusive<\/h3>\n
Forums set up that include a group of classmates or friends, or even an entire class, can cause problems, especially if some kids get excluded from the group or if comments are made that result in hurt to some participants\u2014even if this was unintentional.<\/p>\n
To help avoid this, teach your child how important it is to be tolerant, respectful, polite, and helpful in a private chat group or forum: this embodies netiquette at its best.<\/p>\n
Avoid Strangers<\/h3>\n
Another example where the general rules of netiquette can be discarded: let your child know that they shouldn\u2019t accept a friend request or add someone on social media or another platform that they don\u2019t know. It\u2019s also important that they understand not to open a message or attachment from a stranger either\u2014it could contain inappropriate content or harbor a virus.<\/p>\n
- The Importance of Practicing Netiquette And Why it\u2019s Vital for Kids to Learn<\/a><\/li>\n
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