Community Guidelines for Inclusive Online Communities

Community guidelines for inclusive online communities Cyberspace is a virtual world. It is like we are not only citizens of our country but also of this virtual world. Our online lives as digital citizens are subject to the same ethics and duties we have in real life. We should continue to be honest, responsible, and respectful so that all of our voices can exist in harmony. Be honest Dishonesty can get you into trouble in real life and cyberspace, but a lie can travel farther and faster in the connected world. Respect the values and opinions of others Accept that you may not agree with everyone. But also try not to close your eyes and ears to people you don’t agree with. Sometimes peaceful coexistence is about agreeing to disagree while still listening out of respect. Give the benefit of the doubt A reaction, a post, or an image you see may not mean what you think it means. For example, sometimes likes and reshares only aim to highlight different opinions rather than endorse them. Moderate your convictions You are certainly entitled to your opinions, but sometimes you can be at fault. Be tolerant so that your misunderstandings or outrage wouldn’t do more harm than good. Stand up for others Just like in the real-world, people can hurt each other, and you may find yourself the witness of an incident. Don’t be afraid to raise your voice and leave a supportive comment to the victim. If you report the incident, you can even stop the bully. Don’t add fuel to the fire Never let hateful, harmful, violent, dangerous, or illegal conduct to gain visibility and go viral even to show how wrong someone is in doing it. Instead, report the content to the authorities and block the account that shared it. Don’t use your platform for power demonstration Whatever their mistakes maybe, never ask your followers and loved ones to bully, threaten, diss, harass, insult, dox, or exclude someone you don’t agree with. Call out your people only to do good If you are going to use your platform for collective action, it should be only to do good, like fundraising or awareness campaign. Your voice matters to make the world a better place for everyone. Make room for the underrepresented Open up spaces for people unable to make or restrained from making their voices heard. Educate yourself and your community to listen to underrepresented members such as the disabled and senior citizens. Show your love and kindness Love and kindness take different shapes and forms, including in the cyberspace. They can manifest in a supportive comment or a like, a message of gratitude to those who contribute to our online communities, a transference of knowledge, or whatever you feel comfortable to show. Be the change you wish to see in the world, real and cyber!