Tech is everywhere. In a world just short of Skynet (okay, we hope not!), we’re almost constantly using technology. Today, we’re sharing some tips on tech etiquette. Whether you know these tips and need a refresher, or don’t know them and should learn them now, we’re offering a long list of tips. So without further ado, here are our tips for tech etiquette when…
…you’re texting and emailing:
- Abuse of the Reply All is the number one text/email etiquette rule. Let’s just put it like this: you don’t want to end up in a situation where you’ve said something, maybe less than kind, and then sent it to the wrong person via a Reply All situation.
- DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE’RE YELLING AT YOU? THAT’S BECAUSE OF THE CAPS LOCK! Double check that your caps lock is off so the recipient of your message can avoid the awkward moment when they have to wonder if you’re yelling at them.
- Omg! IMHO that was an LOL moment… No! This is what we like to call acronym overload.
- Don’t reply when it’s not necessary to reply. Yes, that’s right: you don’t always need to reply! Sometimes sending a reply with just a “K” or “thanks” may seem appropriate, when actually you’re just taking up time in someone else’s day. Avoid replying unless it’s actually necessary.
…you’re on your laptop:
- When Skyping or participating in a conference call via computer, do your best to refrain from typing. Often, your microphone will pick up all of the keyboard sounds, and it may distract others from the conversation at hand.
- Be mindful of your volume controls. You never know when a website will have music, and you don’t want to be that one person who accidentally blares music when you’re sitting in a quiet area. Our tip? Grab a pair of headphones.
- When you’re around others, consider them before doing anything on the internet. Maybe you’re bored in a meeting and flipping through Facebook photos; often, this will distract everyone around you. Be mindful of your “distraction potential” before you start browsing the web.
…you’re on social networks:
- D0n’tt TyPE liiKE tHis. Nobody will take you seriously.
- It can be difficult to tweet in 140 characters, but avoid shortening words. Things like “u” and “ur” aren’t professional and aren’t appealing for your followers to read.
- Don’t overshare! People like to know a little about you, but they don’t care to know each time you cook dinner or take a photo. Be mindful of what you would and wouldn’t care to see on someone else’s profile before putting it on your own.
…anytime you’re communicating via tech:
- Be mindful of appropriate communication times. Before shooting off a text, tweet, or email, consider what time it is. Just because it’s 9pm your time doesn’t mean it’s 9pm their time. Think twice about the time of day before sending a message or making a call.
- Don’t let your tech distract you from life. We all know what it’s like to be sitting at a dinner table with a friend and they’re too busy using their phone to actually speak to their dinner companions; don’t do it.
- Quiet area? Respect that or pay the consequences. If you were craving some quiet time and someone was talking on their cell phone, you wouldn’t be happy either!
That was a long, long list but what can we say: it’s important to be conscious of your tech etiquette! Did we miss anything? Leave us a comment below letting us know what tech etiquette you wish other people followed.
Tags: etiquette, just for fun, texting
