The word comes from the combination of the terms Internet and citizen. Netizens may contribute to specific groups around their interest, which can significantly vary.
Between content-laden surfing, streaming multimedia and uploading/downloading of larger and larger files, speedy online Internet service is the call of the day. As most netizens know, high-speed Internet access through digital subscriber line (DSL), cable or fiber optic services (FiOS), offer varying packages based on speed.
In 2006, Time Magazine made an interesting choice for person of the year. The person was “you” meaning more specifically, people who use the Internet to write articles, post videos or blogs, and contribute to different Internet groups. Essentially, the “you” referred to another word that has become more frequently used in the past few years, “netizen.” A netizen is a person who becomes part of and participates in the larger Internet society, which recognizes few boundaries save language. The word comes from the combination of the terms Internet and citizen.
Netizens may also organize a group through a variety of different Internet resources in order to accomplish something. In the 1990s, The Children’s Health Information Network (TCHIN), an online community, used the participation of users on the Internet and outside of it, to petition governors of each state to declare February 14 as Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Day. Since netizens in this group came from all over the United States, finding people to petition for this cause was quite easy. Within a year or two, most states issued proclamations for a CHD day on February 14. Since sometimes these proclamations had to be declared by state governors each year, netizens from the same state would cooperate to make the necessary legal petitions on a yearly basis.
Today what a netizen contributes to a group may be read and seen by a much larger group of people, and may be influential. Sites that rate new blogsites or articles, like Digg.com help other people weigh in on what articles are most valuable or important. It’s quite an accomplishment for a netizen to create something that gets “dugg” by a number of people. This means a lot of people will view this netizen’s creation.
The Internet has been called the global community, and it is true to an extent that people from different countries are able to participate on the Internet and perhaps reach toward global aims. Language and strong political beliefs can divide the global community, but at its best the Internet offers the netizen the opportunity to be more fully a citizen of the world, in addition to being a citizen of his or her own country.
1. Thou shall be omnipresent
Having a blog with Facebook, Twitter, Friendfeed and Flickr accounts along with some forums and 2-3 email accounts is about the norm these days. To keep all your friends and contacts happy, you will need to keep everything fresh and updated, and that requires a lot of time and effort. To simplify the task you will have to aggregate your accounts and then consolidate your email accounts into one by using mail forwarding.
2. Thou shall not trust others to protect their privacy
Whether its Google, Facebook or any other company they will not be vigilant about protecting your privacy. So the user needs to be responsible for making sure his privacy is protected by reading about any changes, checking the news, or just making sure he has the correct settings to suit their needs.
3. Thou shall be the phish that got away
While using the internet, make sure you are always aware of what you are clicking on, and where it will take you. Be skeptical of anything that comes out of Nigeria, and never believe that you won free stuff that you never registered for.
4. Thou shall be careful of what they say and who sees it
All too often, people forget that their spouse are on their Facebook account when they change their relationship status to single. They sometimes even forget they added that snitch in the office last week when they want to vent about work. Thou shall be careful with his mouth on the net and count to 10 before submitting
5. Thou shall vent on the net… Anonymously
If you feel the need to vent on the internet, you shall do so anonymously. That way, you will not have to worry about who knows about it and what you end up saying. It is therapeutic to have a secret blog or forum to vent in.
6. Thou shall connect and reconnect
The internet is there to allow people to reach out to others, extend a hand, an ear or a buck. When reaching out, you can connect to that long lost 3rd grade friend, a fellow Henry Bogart fan or feed a famish child in the developing world. Whatever it is you want to do, it helps to establish new relationship with other netizens.
You never know!
7. Thou shall not feed the troll or be one
The vilest creatures of the web shall not be fed or entertained. Trolls tend to lurk on the internet to cause mayhem and corrupt the righteous. They are the ones posting “first” on blogs, throwing ad hominema attacks and just acting stupid. They are committed to the dark side and will not dissuade from their evil. Therefore, no matter how tempted you might be to try and correct them and save them, you SHALL not. They will only grow more vicious.
8. Thou shall not believe everything they read on the net
When the balloon boy craze hit the US netizens around the world declared it to be a hoax, for they already saw the proof that Adam Savage provided that balloons can’t carry a boy. Like anything else on the net, you will need to consult other sources and scour the testaments of the Google to make sure and verify the authority of a piece of information and be wary of the wikis for they are prone to corruption.
9. Thou shall not be caught committing adultery
We all do it; we all end up using other peoples browsers and computers! So you shall be careful when you do, never save your passwords or bookmark sites, and make sure to clear your browsing history after you are done. Use web messengers instead of installed ones, and verify that you didn’t leave a trace after you are done. (We need a emotion face here, don’t we ;) )
10. Thou shall disconnect
Every once in a while you will need to disconnect yourself from the net and go into the wild. Rediscover reality and bring back all those raw thoughts back with you to the net. That will refresh you and allow you to wind down. That means not wireless connections, no blackberries, and preferably no cellphones. Role play how it feels to be a denizen from the 80′s, use a land line, wear florescent jump suites and let that mullet loose.
Do you Pledge to be a good netizen?
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