Prof. Gül Esra Atalay: “If we cannot say it face to face, we should not say it online either”

Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication organized the third session of its Communication for Society Training Seminars, aiming to share its academic expertise with the public. Faculty Dean Prof. Gül Esra Atalay defined the fundamental rule of digital communication as follows: “If we cannot say something face to face, we should not say it in the digital environment either.” She emphasized that anonymity, physical distance, and the assumption of “we will never encounter each other anyway” can push individuals toward more aggressive or hurtful behavior, weakening the moral and social restraints that normally operate in real life.

Within the framework of its social contribution and science communication mission, the Faculty of Communication held the third seminar under the title “Netiquette: Rules of Conduct in the Digital World – Be Aware, Make a Difference.” The seminar was held online and attracted significant interest. Prof. Atalay participated as the keynote speaker.

Stating that netiquette should be considered a key mechanism for understanding how social media functions, Prof. Atalay said that values such as courtesy, empathy, and responsibility do not emerge spontaneously in digital environments. Instead, they must be consciously learned and continuously practiced as ethical principles. She noted that the more these concepts are discussed and internalized, the more positive online experiences become.

From traditional media to the digital world

Prof. Atalay explained that before digital technologies, societies operated within a media system dominated by newspapers, radio, and television. Today, however, websites, blogs, forums, and social media platforms permeate nearly every aspect of social life. Türkiye is among the countries with high social media usage, and platforms such as Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram allow individuals to communicate synchronously or asynchronously, express themselves, and promote products and services. With the digital age, many interactions once carried out in physical spaces have shifted to virtual environments.

She added that especially in the post-pandemic period, time spent in virtual environments has increased significantly. Meetings, trainings, and discussions can now be conducted for hours with people who are rarely or never met face to face, making behavior in digital settings just as important as in in-person communication.

Netiquette rules are no longer optional

Emphasizing that netiquette goes beyond mere politeness, Prof. Atalay stated that allowing others the freedom to speak and express themselves is also a fundamental requirement for democratic communication. She drew attention to the growing prevalence of cancel culture on some social media platforms, noting that silencing others has almost become a social media sport. This creates an environment that is both discourteous and anti-democratic.

Netiquette, she explained, can be simply defined as online etiquette, behavioral norms, and rules of courtesy. Present in academic literature for 20 to 25 years, netiquette has been studied particularly in communication, education, and psychology. For healthier, more respectful, and more democratic digital communication, knowing and applying netiquette rules is no longer a choice but a necessity.

These rules are especially important for children and young people

Prof. Atalay underlined that netiquette is even more critical for children and young people than for adults, as they are among the groups spending the most time in digital environments. She referred to the concept of the Online Disinhibition Effect, introduced by American psychologist John Suler, which explains how individuals feel freer to say things online that they would never say in face-to-face interactions.

Anonymity can lead to increased aggression

Being behind a screen can create a sense of invisibility, and not seeing the other person’s facial expressions or emotional reactions weakens empathy. According to Prof. Atalay, anonymity, physical distance, and the belief that people will never meet in real life can lead individuals to behave more aggressively or hurtfully. This weakens the moral and social brakes that are normally internalized in real life. Many users perceive the internet as a separate space detached from real-world consequences.

What happens online does not stay online

Prof. Atalay emphasized that individuals today are evaluated not only by their behavior in physical life but also by their digital footprints. She noted that human resources departments frequently review candidates’ social media profiles before interviews, and an inappropriate post, photo, or statement can cost someone a job opportunity. Similarly, consumers often read online reviews before purchasing products or services. This highlights the growing importance of digital reputation for both individuals and institutions. Due to searchability, everyone is responsible for their digital presence and content.

Digital content can reappear years later

To better understand the importance of netiquette, Prof. Atalay referred to the structural characteristics of new media identified by researcher Danah Boyd: persistence, searchability, replicability, and invisible audiences. Digital content is persistent and can resurface years later. Searchability allows easy access to past posts about individuals and organizations. Content can be copied and shared repeatedly, and posts may be viewed by large, often unknown audiences. As a result, control over shared content often moves beyond the original user.

Editorial control on social media is extremely limited

Finally, Prof. Atalay addressed the issue of “context collapse” in social media. Individuals who assume different roles in different physical settings struggle to determine what to say or not say when all contexts merge into a single digital space where family, colleagues, friends, and acquaintances coexist. Although platforms offer tools to manage this complexity, netiquette awareness remains crucial.

Since social media relies heavily on user-generated content and editorial control is extremely limited, harmful content such as insults, bullying, and aggressive language can spread rapidly alongside positive contributions. Research shows that individuals, especially young people, with high netiquette awareness experience less cyberbullying and fewer negative digital interactions.

The etiquette of the digital world

Stating that netiquette represents the norms of the digital world, Prof. Atalay emphasized that just as in real life, the absence of rules in digital environments inevitably leads to chaos. She noted that to exist on social media platforms, establish healthy dialogues, and build a positive digital identity, these rules must be known and internalized. According to Atalay, netiquette stands out as the new etiquette guide of the digital age.

Reminding that global internet usage has reached nearly 70 percent, Prof. Atalay underlined that as time spent in digital environments increases, courtesy and behavioral rules become more critical than ever. She stated that people now meet many of their needs, from education and work to socialization and entertainment, through digital platforms. However, a lack of awareness regarding netiquette, meaning digital etiquette rules, can lead to posts that damage individuals’ reputations and cause regret later. She particularly stressed that this issue is vital for children and young people.

Digital footprints are decisive for everyone

Prof. Atalay explained that the concept of a digital footprint is no longer decisive only for institutions but also for individuals. A digital footprint refers to the sum of all traceable online behaviors of a person and is divided into two categories: passive and active.

She noted that passive digital footprints consist of mostly uncontrollable data such as IP addresses, location information, cookies, and search history. Active digital footprints, on the other hand, include content that individuals consciously leave behind, such as posts, comments, likes, photos, and videos.

Algorithms know us too

Pointing out that digital footprints are analyzed not only by other users but also by algorithms, Prof. Atalay stated that personal profiles are created based on these traces and content and advertisements are presented accordingly. She emphasized that algorithms can get to know individuals closely even through a limited number of likes, increasing digital transparency.

She also reminded that prestigious universities review social media accounts during student admissions, companies examine them during recruitment processes, and some countries even consider them in visa applications. Prof. Atalay noted that there are candidates who have been eliminated due to past social media posts.

Highlighting the shift from anonymous chat rooms of the 1990s to today’s social media culture based on real names and photos, Prof. Atalay stated that every action in digital environments is now directly associated with the individual. She summarized the basic rule as follows: “We should never say anything in digital environments that we would not shout out loud on a crowded street.”

Netiquette is not limited to social media

Prof. Atalay emphasized that netiquette covers not only social media but also email communication, forums, blogs, and mobile phone use. She pointed out that speaking loudly on mobile phones in public spaces is also a matter of courtesy.

Referring to the concept of “phubbing,” Prof. Atalay stated that focusing on mobile phones during face-to-face communication weakens family and social relationships.

According to research, the most disturbing behaviors in online communication include spam emails, unauthorized tagging, irrelevant messages in WhatsApp groups, messages written entirely in capital letters, unnecessary use of “reply all,” and overly familiar forms of address. Prof. Atalay also noted that writing and communication norms may vary across generations.

Basic rules for writing emails

Drawing attention especially to young people, Prof. Atalay outlined basic netiquette rules for email communication. She emphasized that official emails should begin with an appropriate form of address, include a subject line, be clear and concise, and always contain a message when attachments are sent. She also warned against applying for jobs using email addresses with nicknames. She further stated that photos shared on social media may be evaluated out of context and stressed that private information, disturbing images, and photos reflecting others’ vulnerable moments should not be shared. Prof. Atalay once again defined the fundamental rule of digital conduct as: “If we cannot say it face to face, we should not say it in the digital environment either.”

Google never forgets

Emphasizing that internet and social media posts have become part of an individual’s identity, Prof. Atalay stated that people should remember that Google never forgets. She noted that words shape identity and that every expression used online is directly associated with the individual. She added that just as in real life, politeness should be a fundamental principle in digital environments. Statements that cannot be said loudly or directly to someone’s face should not be shared via WhatsApp or social media either.

Digital language weakens language skills

Finally, Prof. Atalay pointed out that social media has caused significant changes in language use, leading to a narrowing of vocabulary and neglect of spelling rules. She emphasized the importance of using Turkish correctly, avoiding spelling mistakes, limiting excessive abbreviations, and being cautious about the foreign-dominated digital jargon common among young people, as it can weaken language skills.