Communicating Effectively Online - Safer Internet Day 2023 Blog Series

In today’s technological world, we live much of our life online. We communicate online, work online, study online and find information at the touch of a button… all online.

Communication skills form a vital part of our everyday life and never before has it been so important to understand the basics of communicating effectively. Online communication is not the same as face-to-face communication, and therefore there are things we need to bear in mind. To ensure we are communicating as effectively as possible in cyberspace, it is good to keep in mind the following:

Clarity

As there are no nonverbal communication signals such as facial expressions, tone of voice or body language in a written message, it is important to be clear about what you mean. If a message is unclear or confusing, it can lead to problems. Keep the language clear and concise and avoid using complex jargon or ambiguous acronyms.

Politeness

Remember that somebody will be reading your message, so keep it polite. Never put something in a message that you wouldn’t say to someone’s face. If you wouldn’t say it offline, don’t write it online!

Use the Right Tone

Make sure you set the right tone online based on who you are communicating with. This is easier to do offline than online. For example, you would not talk to a teacher, tutor or employer in the same was as you would talk to a friend. Also, if you are messaging your parents or another adult relative, you would be expected to establish the correct tone for them. Always bear in mind who you are communicating with and adapt your tone to fit the context.

Include All the Nesessary Detail

Always provide as much detail as necessary. Remember, you are not communicating face-to-face so the receiver will not be able to clarify things immediately. To prevent the need for endless replies going back and forth, be clear, concise and thorough. Try to anticipate any follow-up questions so that your communication is as detailed as necessary. Think of the ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘where’, ‘why’, & ‘how’ and strive to answer these in your initial communication.

With a bit of thought, communicating online can be as effective as offline communication. As long as you follow the above guidelines, you shouldn’t have any problems with your online communication.