Netiquette: online manners, the essentials

Netiquette is the set of good manners online. Nothing complicated: it's mostly real-life politeness rules adapted to the screen. The basic principle fits in one sentence: talk to others the way you'd like to be talked to.

A few handy reflexes

Avoid writing in all caps, it feels like shouting. Reread yourself before sending an angry message: in writing, tone lands badly. And respect a conversation's topic rather than steering everything toward yourself.

Also think about others' privacy. Don't share a photo or a detail about someone without their consent, even as a joke. What's funny to you may be embarrassing for the person involved.

Why it really matters

Good netiquette makes online spaces nicer for everyone, including you. And it protects your reputation: what you write can stick around a long time. Being decent online isn't being uptight, it's just being kind.