As a continuation of the previous article that highlighted on best practices to adopt for safety on social media, lets now focus on best behaviours for healthy online interaction.
Think First, Talk Later
Before jumping onto online conversations, it would be prudent to know their genesis and if it’s worth jumping in.
Reading a line and thinking you understand everything and making irrelevant contributions will only make you look uninformed and dumber than you are.
Respect Opposing Views
Once you think you have the gist of the conversation and have a worthy contribution to make, it is wise to respect those with divergent views.
Keep things friendly and if anyone abuses you, report instead of replying and escalating things to a level that will only leave you with eggs on your face.
Respect Others
Other than respecting people’s views, you want to respect their person. The anonymity of the internet may make you forget that you are interacting with actual humans.
Do not say anything that you would not say to another person in real life.
Use Proper Language
Poor language skills can expose you to ridicule from trolls. Use proper grammar and spelling to express yourself.
It goes without saying that you are better off expressing yourself in a language you are proficient in.
On the same note, people from different parts of the world may be following the conversation, it is therefore prudent to use language that many people can understand.
Do not Plagiarise
Stealing other people’s intellectual property is not only a legal but moral violation.
People spend resources to compose pictures, videos and text. It is only right to credit the owner of intellectual property.
As the wise say, you don’t shine brighter by taking away the shine from other people.
Consider What You Share
Your online accounts are like your personal brand. Potential employers, romantic or business partners will actually look you up on social media to try paint a picture of who you really are.
Therefore, it goes without saying that you need to maintain civility and paint a picture of someone worth hiring, or getting involved with at whatever level.
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Let’s all be responsible netizens, for our own sakes, and for that of those we interact with.
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