The increasing popularity of quick messaging,
emoticons, and Internet slang has led rise to a generation of people who lack
the necessary skills to correctly communicate online. The perceived
disconnection between people has brought in the need for Internet etiquette,
also known as netiquette, when using social media for both personal and
corporate use.
Many people forget that the same types of social standards required for face-to-face
communication also apply to communication on the Internet. It is easy to post a
condemning article and then leave the keyboard with seemingly no consequence.
Recent history has proven this false with the rise of cyber bullying and
resulting teen suicide. Amanda Todd, a high school student in BC, posted a YouTube video chronicling her bullying preempted her suicide. The old adage, “do unto
others as you would have done unto you”, still holds true in the digital age.
It is important to remember that real life communication standards still apply
that you are ultimately responsible for what you post online. As this is true
in personal life, it also applies to public branding of a company or person.
For companies trying to reach a new digital generation it is becoming
increasingly important to be aware of their online identity. Every post creates
the perceived brand in the public’s mind. It is no longer enough to push a
brand through advertising, they must appeal to the personal aspect of the Internet
and bring themselves to an interactive level with the public. Through videos, and multiple social platforms
they need to create sincere efforts to reach their audience. This can be tricky and there have been many high profile failures.
The consequences of online activity can either be detrimental or
positive. It is the responsibility of an individual or corporation to be
responsible with their internet activity and use the proper netiquette to aid
that.
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