Netiquette Rules

The Internet or the world wide web, from the time of its inception, has developed into such a huge entity that it has become a common platform for people all over the world to interact with each other. The technology provides an individual to interact not only with his loved ones in the other part of the world, but also with people who are strangers. The world of Internet has sped up the communication process, where earlier it took days and sometimes weeks to send a letter to another person and now, it is just a matter of seconds. Apart from this, it has also exposed the audience to a vast amount of knowledge and they no longer need to refer to books and newspapers to know something very urgently. Although Internet has become a part and parcel of today's life, there are many people who do not know the Internet user ethics and etiquette. So, here are some of the rules that each and every active member of the Internet has to know.

What is Netiquette?

As the name suggests, there are certain etiquette that need to be followed while using the Internet. The world of Internet can be compared to a society or a culture of which we are a part of. Just like the society or our culture has some rules that we have to abide to in order to live there, even the Internet has some etiquette rules that the Internet user has to follow. So, if you are an Internet savvy or a newbie to the virtual world, it is important for you to know about the top 10 netiquette for kids as well as adults.

Humane and Respectful Treatment
The first and the most important rule of the virtual world is similar to the real world. We have been taught by our parents and teachers that it is important to be good to others and treat them well. However, many people forget this, when it comes to interacting on the Internet. Just because you cannot see the other person, it does not mean that you can say anything to him/her. Remember that there is a person who is sitting on the other side of the computer and reading what you are writing. Hence, it is important to think very well before publishing anything on the Internet. Even though you disagree with another person's opinion, you should never hurt the other person through words just because you are not face to face with him/her. Treat every person you meet on the web the way you want to be treated yourself.

Plagiarism and Copyright Issues
The Internet is a web of knowledge that can be accessed by every individual. However, this has also increased the cases of plagiarism. Many people do not understand the concept that just like copying some one's work, printed on newspaper or book, is illegal, even naming someone's work as your own is considered to be plagiarism. Hence, one must understand that one cannot directly copy other's work and publish it in his name. It is important to ask the permission of that person, before doing any such thing and even if you do so, you should give appropriate credit to that individual. Plagiarizing some other person's work can lead you into legal problems.

Flaming
Flaming or verbal abuse should be avoided completely while interacting on the Internet. As I said earlier, you may like what a person has said about a particular topic or issue. Though you may not agree to it, it is not correct to verbally abuse and disrespect the other person because of it. If you want to give your opinion about it, it should be done in a polite manner and not by insulting or harassing the other verbally. Indulging in flaming can only lead you to gain online enemies.

Writing Style
When it comes to emails, the writing style of the person has to be taken into consideration. There are many people who have the habit of writing in all caps while writing an email or may be even a blog. One must understand this is not a correct etiquette. It is considered that people who write in all caps are actually shouting at the people who are reading it. This can be taken as an offense, even though you do not mean any such thing. In the same way, one should also never write everything in lower case. This is because writing the entire email in lower case is considered to be a sign of laziness. So, whenever you write an email or a blog, make sure that you write it just like you are writing with your own hand.

Check Grammar and Spelling
Though writing short forms are considered to be cool in Internet chatting, it is not actually the proper etiquette. People who do not use the correct spelling or follow the grammar rules correctly are considered to be unintelligent. So, it is extremely crucial to check your spelling, typos and grammatical mistakes thoroughly before you send an email, instant message or publish an article. However, one thing you have to remember is that you should never be rude to a person because you find a spelling or grammatical error in something that you have published.

Honesty
Another problem that many Internet users have come across is fake personalities. There are many people who create their emails, networking profiles, etc. using a fake name and identity. There have been many cases where people have been cheated by such fake identities through Internet dating websites. So, one must remember faking and cheating is illegal and once found can lead to problems.

Abide to the Rules
Each website on the Internet has different rules and policies and if you want to be a part of it, you have to abide by them. Before you join a website, first take a look at the interactions that go there for some time. Also, read the policies that are given there carefully before clicking the accept button. Moreover, once you join the website and become a part of it, make sure that you follow the rules that you have accepted strictly.

Respect Privacy
We have been told by our parents that we should never read other people's letter or mail. This etiquette has to be followed by each and every person who uses the Internet. An individual's password is his own private property and no one has the right to hack their Id and get into their inbox and chat rooms. It is an illegal offense and the other person can sue you for invading his privacy.

Research Well
The Internet is loaded with information, from which many of them are untrue. This usually occurs due to improper research. So, if you want to publish something or comment on a particular topic, make sure that you research well about it. By publishing false information or forwarding a hoax mail, you are actually misguiding innocent readers. So, before publishing or sending anything, make sure that the information is 100% factual.

Avoid Publishing Adult Content
The Internet is flooded with websites that is filled with inappropriate or adult content. However, what one does not realize is that the Internet is not restricted to adults only. Today children are equally tech savvy as adults. Hence, one must try to refrain from publishing content that is not appropriate for child viewing. The person doing such a thing can be penalized.

One must understand that the Internet is an opportunity that one gets to interact with the world and hence, one must use it in a positive way to enjoy this virtual world to the fullest.