Digital Etiquette: Forget please and thank-you

We can tweet in church, we can Facebook in class and we can text in public restrooms.  It’s true, with Smartphones we can, but does this mean that these actions are socially acceptable?

I was inspired to discuss digital etiquette following an experience I had at a restaurant a few weeks ago.  I saw a scene we are all too familiar with – a couple, sitting at the table, enjoying their meals and both on their Smartphones.  What frustrated me about seeing this was that I wasn’t frustrated at all.  I have been ‘that girl’ with ‘that guy’ at ‘that table’.  To me, this seemed perfectly normal, but I can remember a time not long ago when I would have been bothered by seeing a couple ignoring each other in favour of their phones.  This got me thinking about the rules (or lack thereof) of Smartphone and modern technology etiquette and especially how it relates to students…

• Firstly, don’t use your cell phone in class.  Don’t you think your teacher can tell when you are sitting in class and your beady little eyes look downwards to where you’re holding your phone between your legs?  Chances are that your teacher wants to be on his/her phone just as badly as you want to be on yours… (C’mon, who doesn’t love Angry Birds?!)
• Don’t assume everyone is as ‘text savvy’ as you.  Your parents may still use T9.  Accept it!
• Facebook is for you to add your friends, not your teachers, but teachers have friends too so not surprisingly, teachers have Facebook too!  Do not friend request your teacher!  If you’re lucky, your teacher will decline.  If you’re not so fortunate, your teacher may be laying his/her eyes on photos you would much prefer remain where they belong – between friends!  (A friendly reminder from the Studentawards scholarship team that scholarship providers will likely Google you and may have access to your Facebook profile.  Gasp!  Keep it clean!) Oh, and I hope this goes without saying, but submitting an assignment to your teacher via Facebook is less than appropriate…
• If you are interviewing for a job or internship, never pick up your phone!  It must be on silent!  That’s what voice mail is for...
• Only use your phone if you are not bothering or ignoring the people around you.  This advice comes from modern etiquette expert, Anna Post of the Emily Post Institute.  If there’s one thing you remember from my rant – let this be it!

Thanks for letting me put my voice in your head.

As always, feedback is welcome!

Lisa S
Studentawards

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universitybound3 wrote:	Love this article; things like this show be reviewed more often! Posted on Aug 11, 2012 at 10:33
mabuan wrote:	I agree 100 % . The use of cellphones has created a generation that is slowly starting to become ``antisocial`` It seems that every awkward moment that has come one`s way is disappeared by the use of the cell phone. Posted on Mar 25, 2011 at 08:02

 

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