Entry to the Information Age means quick communications and few geographic boundaries, providing access to thoughts and information in real time around the globe. One disadvantage of the Information Age is that people cannot use body language to interpret the meaning behind the written or spoken words. Even communications that use voice media are not always perceived as the speaker intended. The good news is that exercising "netiquette", or Internet etiquette, skills can help minimize the potential for confusion and misunderstandings.
Be Brief
The Government of Western Australia notes that keeping email messages and Internet postings short is effective in two ways. Shorter messages take less memory and will download faster, and because many Internet users have limited time, shorter messages take less time to read.
Exercise Patience
Because communication in the information age is instantaneous, it is easy to forget that some recipients might not be immediately available. The Delaware Technical and Community College notes that readers of your communications might be located on the other side of the globe and be asleep when your communication arrives, or they might be in a meeting or off sick for the day. Be patient after sending a message or posting a comment, and do not assume that your message has been ignored or misplaced because you do not receive an immediate response.
Be Courteous
As you would when speaking with someone face-to-face, keep your Internet and remote communications courteous. Begin email messages with a greeting to an individual or the group, do not use inflammatory language in your communications, and provide a farewell at the end of your message. Remember that humor might not translate well between cultures and keep sarcasm to a minimum.
Reduce Flaming
The Yale University Library defines "flaming" as the possibility that an Internet communication will evoke an emotional response in a reader who may then send an immediate, emotional response that will make the situation worse. When composing a communication, review your wording to ensure it is not inflammatory. When you receive a message that could be interpreted emotionally, step back and delay responding. Try to speak to the sender to ensure you understood the intent of their message, or attempt to clarify the sender's intent through a softly worded reply.
Privacy
Be discreet, bearing in mind that emails and Web postings might be read by someone other than the person you are communicating with. Do not post sensitive information such as health or family details, or Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers via the Internet and be careful about including them in an email. Florida Atlantic University recommends not including anything in an email or Internet posting unless you would be happy to see that information or comment in a newspaper.
Forgive
Exercise leniency if you perceive that someone is "attacking" you or communicating harshly. The people on the other end of the Internet are just that: people. They have good days and bad days, and their communications on bad days might not be perfect.
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