Module 7: Social, Ethical and Legal Responsibilities in the Use of Technology

Tools and Resources

Lesson 2: Nitizenship and Netiquette in Online Communities

STARTING ACCURATELY (INTRODUCTION)

Lesson Introduction

Netizenship is a portmanteau of the words internet and citizen, as in a

“citizen of the net” or “net citizen.” It describes person actively involved in online
communities or the internet in general. On the other hand, netiquette is a short
for “internet etiquette.” Just like etiquette is a code of polite behavior on the
internet.
Netiquette or the rules of socially accepted behavior online have to be
observed by nitizens in writing email, in texting and other communications on the
web.

Intended Outcome/Learning Objectives

1. Defined netizenship and netiquette

2. Formulate a set of netiquette guidelines

STIMULATING LEARNING (MOTIVATION)

Study the case below and analyze the side of both parties.

The case involved two minor students from a certain school

whose photos were posted on Facebook. The photos, which uploaded
by one of their friends, showed the students drinking and smoking in the bar, and
wearing just undergarments on a street. The photos were shown by one of the
facebook friends of the girls to the school officials prompting them to ban the
students from marching in their graduation rites. According to the school, the
students violated the school code of conduct.

The parents of the students in defense filed a petition for the issuance of a
writ of habeas data and asked the court to order the school to surrender and
deposit all soft and printed copies of the photographs, and to declare they have
been illegally obtained in violation in the children's right to privacy.

Discussion:
1. After weighing all the information, will whom will you side - to the parents or to
the school?
2. What are your reasons for siding with the parents? With the school?
3. Simulate the court hearing with the judge.

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 Module 7: Social, Ethical and Legal Responsibilities in the Use of Technology
Tools and Resources
Lesson 2: Nitizenship and Netiquette in Online Communities

Check if your arguments are in consonance with the decision of the

Supreme Court. Read the Supreme Court's decision on the next page.

The court dismissed the parent's petition and ruled that "The school did
not violate the minor's privacy rights." According to the court, the school cannot
be faulted for being "steadfast in its duty of teaching its students to be
responsible in their dealings and activitiea in cyberspace, particularly in [social
networks], when it enforced the disciplinary actions specified in the Student
Handbook, absent a showing that, in the process, it violated the students' rights."

The dicision of the court that the students cannot invoke the protection
attached to the right to informational privacy because the photos were seen by
other students of the school, who in turn showed them to the computer teacher
who reported the incident to the school authorities. In the language of the court,
"The photos, having been uploaded on Facebook without restrictions as to who
may view them, lost their privacy in some way." The court further added in its
ruling that setting their post privacy to 'Friends Only' is not an assurance that it
can no longer be viewed by another user who is not Facebook friends with the
source of the content. The decision read that "Without proof that they placed the
photographs subject of this case within the ambit of their protected zone of
privacy, they cannot now insist that they have an expectation of privacy with
respect to the photographs in question.

The decision of the court puts the burden of ensuring safeguarding privacy
online users and expects them to exercise due diligence in their online dealings
and activities. According to the court, not diacounting the role of the schools and
parents in disciplining and educating their children to be good digital citizens,
self- regulating is the "best means of avoiding privacy rights violations." It further
issued a ruling saying that nothing is ever private in Facebook, even those
tagged as private never really escape public viewing, including unintended
audiences.

The Philippines, being considered as social media capital of the world, has
a need to stress social media education and etiquette among online users. The
interview conducted with parents and teachers of high school students in the
above example underscored the need to use social media responsibly. All
agreed for the inclusion of social media etiquette in the education curriculum
either as a separate subject or integrated in good manners and right conduct.
Social media can attain many things in terms of social good (Brutas, 2015). How
can social media be used to affect positive change?

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 Module 7: Social, Ethical and Legal Responsibilities in the Use of Technology
Tools and Resources
Lesson 2: Nitizenship and Netiquette in Online Communities

INCULCATING CONCEPTS (INPUT/LESSON PROPER)

Netizenship is the term netizen is a portmanteau of the words

internet and citizen, as in a “citizen of the net” or “net citizen.” It
describes person actively involved in online communities or the
internet in general.

Netiquette is a short for “internet etiquette.” Just like etiquette is a code of

polite behavior on the internet. This includes several aspects of the internet, such
as email, social media, online chat, web forums, website comments, multiplayer
gaming, and other types of online communication.

Netiquette is a combination of the words network and etiquette and is

defined as a set of rules for acceptable online behavior. Similarly, online ethics
focuses on the acceptable use of online resources in an online social
environment.
Both phrases are frequently interchanged and are often combined with the
concept of a ‘netizen’ which itself is a contraction of the words internet and
citizen and refers to both a person who uses the internet to participate in society,
and an individual who has accepted the responsibility of using the internet in
productive and socially responsible ways.

In the previous lesson, we have understood our roles and responsibilities

as global digital citizens. Our memberships in virtual community requires that we
behave appropriately and act responsibly.

While working online we all create a digital tattoo and we leave a digital
footprints. We have to remember that our digital world is permanent, and with
each post, we leave a digital footprint. By doing self-reflecting before we self-
reveal, we are able to consider how what we share online can impact ourselves
and others (www.commonsensemedia.org).

Scrutinizing the term again, a netizen, according to the Merriam – Webster

Dictionary (26 April 2018) is an active participant in the online community of the
internet. The medical dictionary refers to it as an internet citizen who uses
networked resources, which connotes civic responsibility are participation. Thus
Netizenship means citizenship in the internet or in the virtual world.

As responsible netizens, we are all expected to support a healthy

interaction on the internet. A netiquette, or the rules of socially accepted behavior

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 Module 7: Social, Ethical and Legal Responsibilities in the Use of Technology
Tools and Resources
Lesson 2: Nitizenship and Netiquette in Online Communities

online have to be observed in writing an email, in texting, and other

communications on the web.

Below are some netiquette guidelines:

1. Protect your reputation.

Whether in real or in virtual world, you are the same person. Do only what
is appropriate and share information that does not harm you as a person.

2. Respect others.

Respect begets respect. Treat everyone with respect even if you have not
seen him/her in person. Be judicious about what you say on your own and other’s
pages.

3. Express yourself clearly and use emoticons.

Communication online is difficult because emotions are nor evident during

communication. Miscommunication usually takes place because your facial
expression and your body language cannot be seen and the tone of your voice
cannot be heard. Thus, emoticons are readily available to show your emotions.

4. Remember the intellectual property.

Ideas online are products of intelligence of others. If you need to cite them,
acknowledge the authors. You definitely do not want to steal properties of others.

5. Check spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Since your face cannot be seen online, you will be judged according to
your post. Good writing means good manners. We do not want to waste other
people’s time reading our post which is incomprehensible.

6. Pause before you post.

Take note that whatever you post become permanent therefore think twice
or thrice before you click send.

7. Do not share your personal information.

Sharing your personal information online is like going around the stress
wearing a shirt printed with your name, birthday, address, name of parents, etc.
you definitely do not want to reveal all these to many people. Besides, providing
all these publicly will make you prone to identify theft.

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Lesson 2: Nitizenship and Netiquette in Online Communities

8. Think about who or what you are representing.

As a son\daughter, you represent your family. As a student you represent

your school. You do not want your family. As a student, you represent your
school. You do not want your family or school to be put to shame by what you do.

UPGRADING COMPETENCE (ENRICHMENT PHASE)

On the Web…

Go to the brainpop.com and explore a lot of activities on digital

etiquette. You can watch a movie, play a game, take a quiz, take a
challenge, you make a map, or create a movie.

EVALUATING UNDERSTANDING (ASSESSMENT)

FOR YOU TO ANSWER…

A. Talk about your ideas in a given situations below. Follow this format in
your discussion: Introduce, enumerate and conclude):

Online communication has completely changed the way we interact with one
another. Practices like flaming and trolling can transform a friendly message
board into a verbal battleground. How can you fight online rudeness and help
bring courtesy and respect back to the web? List down your own internet
etiquette in relation to these.

USING/APPLYING KNOWLEDGE (APPLICATION/INTEGRATION)

With your peer…

Discuss your own internet guideline with your peer. Put together your
individual work and create a peer internet etiquette.

EVALUATING UNDERSTANDING (ASSESSMENT)

Using the application tools that you have learned such as

https://www.powtoon.com, create a 2-minute video about your own netiquette
guidelines and disseminate it to your whole college or school. Use it as a

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 Module 7: Social, Ethical and Legal Responsibilities in the Use of Technology
Tools and Resources
Lesson 2: Nitizenship and Netiquette in Online Communities

campaign material to encourage everyone to use the internet responsibly.

Upload it in your ePortfolio.

Exchange

“Your Manners Matter.” Group your class into different groups and create
situations or dilemmas regarding online behavior. Let your classmates from the
other group answer the dilemmas you created and have your group ready also to
answer the dilemmas they prepared. Remember to be always grounded on your
netiquette.