"The frequency of these inappropriate posts on our site is a growing concern. It's imperative that we address this behavior immediately!"

Andrea is alarmed by the poor netiquette of some members of her social media group. As the group's moderator, she created an infographic about good and bad netiquette for all members.

Let's find out what Andrea included in her infographic.

An online community moderator observes poor netiquette habits in an online community. Image by Freepik

Andrea's Definition and Introduction

Welcome to our online community. Good behavior and messaging are expected from all of our members. 

Our highest priority is providing a safe space where all members can share information, debate, learn, and interact without harassment or discrimination. Our netiquette rules protect members from inappropriate and disrespectful communication. Please read and refer to these rules before posting messages on this site.

A woman cries as inappropriate comments appear on her laptop screen. Text:

Quiz

Linda is new to Andrea's social media group. Which of these behaviours would be a red flag for Andrea?

Andrea's Netiquette Do's and Don'ts

Respectful communication improves member relationships and attracts new members to this platform. Please refer to our netiquette do's and don'ts before posting. When in doubt, click the netiquette link on our community homepage to review our rules.

A person says,

Do's

  • Be mindful. Review your messages or get others to review them before posting. Negative messages can damage your reputation and could also result in legal action.

  • Use good grammar. Other members depend on clear and concise communication to understand and learn from your facts and ideas.

  • Remember the human aspect. Be polite and treat all members the way you would like to be treated. Address users by name and use a polite tone.

  • Be forgiving. Members can make mistakes in their messages. Provide respectful feedback and offer support to new users.

  • Respond promptly to direct requests or questions from fellow members.

A young woman says,

Don'ts

  • Never post derogatory, discriminating, or false information about other members.

  • Never share personal or sensitive information about yourself and others.

  • Using coarse language or posting inappropriate illustrations or photographs is strictly prohibited.

  • Avoid excessive use of uppercase letters and exclamation marks. This could be interpreted as shouting. Define abbreviations and avoid using slang words.

  • Spamming is not allowed. Avoid sending unsolicited messages to all group members.

  • Please refrain from using hyperlinks from unreliable sources. They could expose the community to hackers or spread disinformation.

Quiz

A long time member in Andrea's group is posting negative comments about another member. Which of the actions below would be a bad decision for Andrea to make?

Andrea's Consequences for Not Following Rules

Our online community moderators will take the following actions if members fail to follow netiquette rules:

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  • We reserve the right to modify or delete inappropriate messages.

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  • Members who intentionally and persistently intimidate or sow discord amongst members will be expelled from our community.

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  • Extreme and violent threats to members will be reported to the proper authorities.

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  • Messages not translated into English or French will be flagged and sent back to the owner for translation.

A teacher tells a student,

Take Action

Andrea ends with a bold call to action:

We are all netiquette champions! Let's show visitors and new community members how it's done. Together, we can protect our online community from the negative impact of poor communication and inappropriate behavior. An infographic depicting online community members communicating with each other. Image by pch vector on Freepik

Learn from Andrea's example and practice netiquette:

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