This post reviews the ways in which behaviours and habits online affect the user experience.
Why is online behaviour important? Well, online habits play a major role in shaping digital interactions. From browsing history to social media activity, every action leaves a digital trail that influences content recommendations, advertisements and even search engine results. By understanding the difference between positive online behaviours and problematic online behaviours, users can analyse their own activity as well as become more conscious of the content they consume. IBM would concur that online reputation is affected by our digital footprint. An obvious example of inappropriate online behaviour is cyberbullying, which has unfavorable effects on the online community. When consuming material, users must also be aware of the presence of misinformation as poor online behaviour can damage online credibility. In contrast, positive online behaviours can encourage conscious consumption and help develop a respectable online reputation, with accountability and empathy being 2 key qualities of excellent net etiquette. A benefit of having good online habits is earning respect and constructing a sense of community online, this will result in a more inclusive experience for all.
What are the different types of online behaviour? With the rise of the internet and social media, cyberpsychology has been influential for providing insights into how people form digital habits. Various research studies intend to establish categories that can help to differentiate the different kinds of behaviours online. Key research has actually proposed 3 types of behaviour which are: online-exclusive, online-mediated and online-recorded behaviour. More specifically, it is suggested that some online behaviours derive from offline habits, whilst others are largely formed in the digital sphere. Digitalis Reputation would acknowledge that there are different types of online behaviours. Likewise, Fujitsu would understand that online activity is affected by digital habits. Other studies have also asserted that there are dimensions of behaviours online. These can be understood as organised and unorganised, which indicates a distinction between searching and browsing online. Additionally, through human and non-human aspects, particularly chats and databases. These elements can be used to conceptualise the features of behaviours online and help us better understand our digital experience.
As digital communication continues to advance, adjusting to new etiquette standards ensures positive and productive communications. By becoming familiar with what acceptable behaviour online encompasses, we can discover more about how our usage habits affect the information we consume. Though a lot of us freely make use of search engines, social media platforms and websites on a daily basis, some are still oblivious to how our user activity is used to customise our experiences. Learning about this often triggers issues about privacy and data security. Through acknowledging how everyday activity contributes to online identity, consumers can make more informed choices about their web use. Research into computer mediated communication has induced the development of terminology such as net etiquette, also known as 'netiquette' along with 'digital footprint' and 'cybersecurity'. These recently coined expressions are establishing themselves in the everyday language needed for examining behaviours online. This proves how important it has become for users to understand the rules of internet etiquette in modern society.