Digital Etiquette
Learning Objectives
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1. Explain why cyber bullying is so widespread.
2. Research one case of cyber bullying leading to suicide and describe at least one method of prevention. 3. Explain why it is so difficult to teach online etiquette rules. |
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Digital Etiquette Overview
Ribble (2015) defined digital etiquette as the electronic standards of conduct or procedure. With the proliferation of new technologies available most users do not know proper rules of usage and behavior so they are left to do the best they can or watch how more experienced users utilize the technology. Parents have always been the responsible parties for teaching young children proper behavior and the consequences for poor behavior, but many parents are not aware of the ramifications of using technology and what is considered proper usage. Norms of behavior are set by the society one lives in. Today there are very different norms of behavior for people who were raised using technology from those who were not. It is very difficult for a person to evaluate and judge their own behavior. They must seek feedback from others and make personal adjustments in their behavior based on this feedback.
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Another consideration is that technology is very fast paced and does not allow for much time to think about the impact a text or a picture may have on another person before it is irreversibly posted or sent. As a society we must develop acceptable usage rules to define when and how technology can be used so that it does not have a negative effect on others. Online posts may feel anonymous and this feeling may give users a confidence to post and say things online that they would never do so in a face-to-face conversation. For this reason, Ribble stresses the need to teach character education and empathy (Ribble, 2015).
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Connections to Digital Etiquette
Internet etiquette is very important for medical practitioners. Online postings or pictures on Facebook of medical practitioners in compromising positions or using alcohol or drugs can adversely affect their medical practice as well as risk their medical license. Patients research their physicians online not only for their medical knowledge but also for their bedside manner. Inappropriate posts, texts or tweets can irreversibly damage a practitioners or future practitioners reputation. In addition to this risk is the risk incurred by posting picture of patients or descriptions of their illness that can be identifiable as belonging to a single person. The trend in medicine is toward online medical care. Practitioners with poor manners or poor reputation will find it very difficult to establish a medical practice because their reputation will proceed them.
NPR Radio Broadcasts
Online Health Searches are Not Always Confidential
Date: June 8, 2015 Length: 3:35
Summary: When you discuss a medical condition with your doctor in his/her office you have privacy protections, but not when you search online. 2000 common disease terms were searched and 80,000 pages of information were brought up. 90% of those pages tell a hidden party, such as an advertiser, that you searched for that condition. Companies can then sell lists of people who have searched for these diseases to companies such as pharmaceutical companies.
Link to Podcast and transcript
Small Violation of Medical Privacy Can Hurt Patients and Erode Trust
Date: December 10, 2015 Length: 6:40
Summary: This podcast tells of the story of Frances. A patient technician who worked at a hospital Frances was treated at and who was a personal friend, posted on Facebook that Frances had human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted disease. Frances complained to a nurse who subsequently sent a letter of apology. HIPAA does not provide the means for a patient to sue if their privacy is violated. The only place to seek recourse is the Office of Civil Rights. The podcast went on to describe several other similar cases.
Link to Podcast and transcript
References
Online Health Searches Aren't Always Confidential . (2015). NPR.org. Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/06/08/412893469/online-health-searches-arent-always-confidential
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know. Eugene, OR: International Society for
Technology In Education.
Small Violations Of Medical Privacy Can Hurt Patients And Erode Trust. (2015). NPR.org. Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/12/10/459091273/small-violations-of-medical-privacy-can-hurt-patients-and-corrode-
trust
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/06/08/412893469/online-health-searches-arent-always-confidential
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know. Eugene, OR: International Society for
Technology In Education.
Small Violations Of Medical Privacy Can Hurt Patients And Erode Trust. (2015). NPR.org. Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/12/10/459091273/small-violations-of-medical-privacy-can-hurt-patients-and-corrode-
trust
