A Modern Guide to Online Etiquette, from Social Media to Work to Love
Starred review from November 18, 2019
Turk (The Damage Done), features editor at Wired U.K., playfully updates etiquette protocol for the modern era with this helpful guide. The tenet “good etiquette means putting other people’s comfort first” serves as Turk’s through line when figuring out the best way to interact virtually. Fun boxes and flowcharts are peppered throughout the text, and each of the four chapters (work, dating, friendship, social media) opens with five “Golden Rules” that bullet point key takeaways. Work email is extensively covered, with “reduce emails at all costs” as the main message. “Consent and reciprocity” is the core advice of Turk’s tips for online dating, which cover how and when to communicate. The art of text messaging is also thoroughly investigated, with Turk making the case that seemingly small details (such as punctuation) require attention to avoid misunderstandings. Funny “translations” of common email phrases as well as a guide to using emoji (such as how to use winking, smirking, and hand emoji for flirting) will be useful and amusing to those who feel out of the loop or take things too literally. While this digital-age primer will be of most interest to those who didn’t grow up with the internet, even online natives will find Turk’s savvy advice a joy.