Which of these is essential to netiquette

a. set all your social media accounts to private

b. do not give your contact details to strangers

c. do not use offensive language

d. visit only trusted websites

The correct answer is C. It is essential to netiquette to not use offensive language.

Explanation:

Nettiquette is a combination of the words network and etiquette. It comprises the unwritten guidelines and rules of conduct for the use of the internet.

The rules from the netiquette can be divided informally into two categories: technologically and culturally determined rules.

Technological rules are based on the fact that not everyone uses the same technology on the internet.

Cultural rules are based on the globality of the internet: what one finds incredibly funny is a gross insult to the other.

In practice it appears that straightforward saying what one thinks, without the possibility of transferring tone and facial expression, can very quickly lead to misunderstanding and intense anger. With e-mail it is therefore wise to be cautious, especially in the way in which criticism is expressed. The netiquette can differ per forum, newsgroup or chat program. In general, the excessive use of capital letters is considered loud and disturbing. There are subjects that remain risky: politics, religion and sex, while computer science (management systems, programming languages, etc.) is perceived as for specialists.