Imagine two messages pop up in your class group chat. Which one would you rather get?
📱 Message A: “WHO TOOK MY CHARGER??? GIVE IT BACK NOW!!!”
📱 Message B: “Hi everyone, I think I left my phone charger in the lab after ICT. If you picked it up, could you bring it to Form 1B tomorrow? Thanks!”
Both messages want the same thing. So why does one feel so much nicer? The answer is netiquette.
In this post:
- What netiquette means
- Five golden rules for good manners online
- Netiquette for emails and group chats
- A message makeover, a sorting activity and a quiz
What is netiquette?
Netiquette is a mix of two words: net (the Internet) and etiquette (good manners). It means the rules of good behaviour when we communicate online: in emails, texts, group chats, comments, forums and online games.
Online, people cannot see your face or hear your voice. A joke that sounds friendly when you say it out loud can look rude or hurtful when it is typed. That is why online manners matter so much.
Image source: File:CAPS LOCK.JPG (Wikimedia Commons)
Five golden rules
| Rule | What it means | Instead of… | Try… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Be respectful | There is a real person reading your message. Only type what you would say to their face. | “Your idea is dumb.” | “I see it a different way. What if we…?” |
| 2. Mind your tone | Your reader cannot hear your voice. Choose friendly words, and use an emoji if it helps show you are joking or being kind. | “Whatever.” | “OK, no problem 🙂” |
| 3. Don’t shout | ALL CAPITAL LETTERS look like shouting. Lots of !!! and ??? feel angry too. | “ANSWER ME!!!” | “Could you let me know when you get a chance?” |
| 4. Be clear and short | Get to the point, check your spelling and avoid text-speak when writing to teachers or adults. | “wen r we 2 hand in d ting” | “When is the project due?” |
| 5. Listen to others | People will have different opinions. Read carefully, and disagree politely. | “You’re wrong, stop talking.” | “Good point. I still think… because…” |
A few more good habits
- Think before you post. Once something is online, it can be copied, shared and screenshotted, even if you delete it.
- Don’t spam. Avoid flooding a chat with stickers or forwarding chain messages (“Share this to 10 people or…”).
- Respect privacy. Ask before you post a photo of someone else or add them to a group.
- Stay on topic in class or project groups, and do not message people late at night unless it is urgent.
Writing a good email
Emails to teachers are more formal than chats with friends. A good email has:
- A clear subject line, for example “Question about the ICT project”
- A greeting: “Good morning, Ms Ali,”
- A short, polite message with correct spelling
- A sign-off with your name and class: “Thank you, Jordan (Form 1B)”
Watch: what is netiquette?
This short video explains netiquette with everyday examples. As you watch, count how many of our five golden rules it mentions.
Video: What is Netiquette? | All About Computers – Tynker – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L3wN3U1Q_4
Activity: message makeover
Try it: rewrite these messages politely
Each message below breaks a netiquette rule. Write a polite version in the box, then click Check my messages. The checker looks for ALL CAPS, unkind words and too many !!! or ???. It cannot read minds, so also ask yourself: would I be happy to receive this?
✘ WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME THE TEST WAS TODAY???
✘ ur drawing is ugly lol
✘ Send me the homework answers NOW!!!
✘ Shut up, nobody asked for your opinion.
Activity: good netiquette or not?
Try it: sort the online behaviour
Drag each card into the right box (or tap the card, then tap the box).
Good netiquette ✔
Poor netiquette ✘
Self-check quiz
Click the best answer. You get feedback straight away; only your first click counts towards your score.
1. What does netiquette mean?
2. Why can a typed joke be misunderstood?
3. Typing in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS is like…
4. Which is the best subject line for an email to your teacher?
5. Someone posts an opinion you disagree with. What is good netiquette?
6. Before posting a group photo with your friends in it, you should…
Related posts on islandclass.org
There is no older Form 1 post on this topic yet, so this is the main lesson.
Next: Staying Safe on Social Media
Syllabus link: Forms 1–3 ICT curriculum, Module 6, Objective 6.1 – demonstrate proper netiquette when using the Internet.
Attributions to media used in this post:
- CAPS LOCK.JPG – Tom Harpel – CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Video: What is Netiquette? | All About Computers – Tynker (YouTube)
Updates
2026/10/21
– Fixed the activity code so its buttons keep working.
© 2026 Vedesh Kungebeharry. All rights reserved.