When many of us think of etiquette, our minds go to in-person interactions with friends, coworkers, strangers, and so on. But the truth is that we engage with other people on the internet in so many more ways. Take gambling, for example.
In the past, the only type of gambling etiquette that would have been considered was for engaging with fellow players and casino staff in real life. But now, many of us are placing our wages online. As gambling writer Andjelija Blagojevic explains in a recent article, international casino sites are more commonly used. This and other changes in the online landscape mean that online etiquette is much more important. But how does this online etiquette make your digital presence more effective?
Proper Timing
In real life, we are told to read the room and understand when it is the right time and place to make certain statements or do certain things. The same principles apply online, as humans interact with one another. Knowing proper online timing will enhance your digital presence and mean that you will not put out any statements or engage in any information in a way that will be deemed insensitive. Say there has been a natural disaster, and people online are posting tributes to victims and raising awareness. That would not be the right time to post a video flaunting material wealth or of yourself on vacation. If you want to do this, you would alienate people who follow you, and this would harm your digital presence.
Proper Approaches
Online, we are always engaging with other people, but there is a proper way to do so, and this depends on both the people and the platforms. Just like your approach in real life may endear you to people or make them dislike you, so does your online approach. For example, tweeting at a person multiple times in a single hour asking the same question will come off as bothersome and annoying. In the same way, asking a person a sensitive question in their comment section, as opposed to in a private message, is likely not the right approach. This differs based on your relationship with this person, what you are approaching them about, and even the platform you are using. Professional queries, for example, are better sent on LinkedIn as opposed to Snapchat. Learning the proper online etiquette means that you’re likely to get better results and make meaningful connections.
Audience Sensitivity
While social media means that we can share a myriad of thoughts, ideas, and content with people, audience sensitivity is also needed. If you are posting a video of a graphic or disturbing nature, even for a good reason, you can go on to alienate or disturb your audience. Knowing when to add a content warning, use Instagram’s blur feature, or not post that all means that you will come up as a responsible digital citizen and not alienate your audience. Of course, this depends on the content itself and the rules of the platforms you use, but violating such etiquette could see your audience turned away or even your account banned.
Language and Tone
One of the first rules of human interaction we learn is to use the proper language and tone depending on the situation. And while social media might feel less formal than real-life interactions, the same applies. By knowing how to read the audience you’re speaking to, you can take on the most appropriate language and tone. If you are putting up a post announcing your new job on LinkedIn, you will take a different tone of voice than if you are announcing your engagement on Instagram or simply sharing your Saturday night highlights on TikTok.
Using appropriate language and tone means that you can avoid offending anyone or coming off as unprofessional, depending on the context. Appropriate language and tone also apply when speaking directly to people on social media. If you’re messaging the head of a company to ask for an internship, you will take on a more professional tone than if you were tweeting at your favourite pop star to say you loved their new album. Just like in real life, discernment and care are key
Conclusion
Digital presences are becoming almost as important as our real-life presence is and this means that online etiquette is very much needed. Learning online etiquette, whether it’s the right tool to use or the right type of content to post on various platforms, will go a long way to endear you to whatever audience you are speaking with. Whether you’re trying to create a career out of being a content creator or simply want to come off as a responsible digital citizen, these should be learned and applied every time you take to the internet to engage with others.
