To say that the internet is a chaotic place is an understatement. People are more confident with their words and actions due to the veil of anonymity and the fact that they are out of reach. There are rules that you should follow, even if they are not explicitly stated.
1. Think Before You Type
Just like in the real world where you have to think before you speak, you should also think before you type online. Even if you're behind an account or username that isn't connected to your identity, you should still think about how your words will affect others.
The internet is a brutal place, and although there are policies in social media platforms that prevent hateful content, some still make it through. You don't have to add to all the toxicity, and you can do so by remaining respectful even to strangers.
2. Don't Be a Troll
There's the kind that expresses how they feel no matter how negative they may be, and there are those who enjoy creating fires online. Provocation is their lifeblood and its sole purpose is to get a rise out of people. Even if a user or a post is annoying to you, just leave it alone and don't be a jerk.
3. Don't Respond to Trolls
Responding to trolls is just as bad as being a troll yourself. Knowing what their intentions are, you're only giving them satisfaction by reacting to their attempts. The only way to deprive an internet troll is not to give them the attention or reaction they're hoping for. That might even be enough to dissuade them from doing it again.
4. Caps Means Yelling
In case you don't know this yet, writing in all caps means that you are yelling, as mentioned in Medium. Users usually type in all caps to add some intensity to their statements. Still, it could be received negatively. As it is in the real world, raising your voice is a form of disrespect, and that applies to the internet as well.
5. Don't Steal Content
This is something that shouldn't even be said, but some people need to hear it. When you decide to post someone else's content, give credit where credit is due. There are several accounts on social media platforms that simply repost content from other creators.
For others, they do it to share the kind of media they think would be a hit, thus, gaining followers and views. Through monetization, they can earn from those views, which is somewhat indirectly stealing revenue from the people who created the content in the first place.
6. Don't Air Your Dirty Laundry Online
Seriously, there are users who can't comprehend just how public social media is. With that in mind, keep your private affairs private. Don't post a Facebook status about the troubles you have which are meant to be discussed privately.
There have been instances when people would fight it out in a comment section, revealing to the whole internet world what their private issues are. The ethical thing to do is talk about it (or fight about it) in person, and not where everyone can spectate the disaster.
7. Don't Promote Your Business in Comments
While social media platforms are a good place to promote your business given their huge user base, there's still a time and a place for that. For example, you can't just comment a link to your business in someone else's post. As pointed out by HubSpot, you'll just lose credibility, and let's be honest, it's rude.
