No matter what capacity you are engaging in online, it is imperative to gain an understanding of netiquette and how to apply it to daily online interactions.

Sets of socially acceptable guidelines that shape the way one behaves, communicates, and conducts themselves on the internet.

The accessibility and anonymity of the internet makes it a breeding ground for things such as cyber bullying and malicious acts which are the complete opposite of netiquette.

So what kind of netiquette can one apply to become "cyber friendly"?

Words can often be misread or misleading. This is why it is important to not only think before you speak but also think before you type. Once you hit send via post, email, text, etc. the message is now out of your control. Words not only hurt others but have the power to comeback and hurt you in the future.

When typing messages, there are a few rules you can follow to help keep the meaning as clear as possible.

Try not to use all capital letters, a lot of exclamation marks, or strong colors such as red. This can cause messages to have a strong connotation attached to it.

Make use of emoticons when typing messages to help others decipher the emotion behind the words.

Respond politely to others and refrain from the urge to respond to nasty, hurtful messages.

The internet is a breeding ground for identity theft, cyber stalking, online predators, bullying, etc. Sharing too much information on social media sites, blogs, chat rooms, etc. can really put you in unsafe, vulnerable positions.

The use of a first name when engaging online especially in chat rooms is fine. Be sure to not reveal information such as address, name of school, age, pictures, etc. with people you do not know. Also, privacy does not only pertain to just your information but that of friends, family, classmates, etc.

When you forget to keep your information private you may fall victim to having your identity taken, manipulated, and used in harmful ways.

Be sure you, with assistance if needed, report fake or offensive profiles, emails, etc. of themselves and others to social networking sites, email providers, etc.

If someone says something that makes a you uncomfortable or you are a victim of cyber bullying or malicious activity do not respond and tell someone you trust.