Your do's and don'ts for the digital age - a new etiquette (light-hearted!)

[ThinkingCat]

I've noticed that quite a few issues on threads are due to things people have done on Facebook or digitally that wouldn't have been possible in the old days. I mean social faux pas perhaps committed unthinkingly. So what guidelines would you want people to follow? They can be modern etiquette do's and don'ts or even commandment-style!

See my examples below:

eg: 'Don't announce a baby's birth on Facebook unless you are the parents of said baby (or have their permission)'

Alternative commandment-style:
'Do not steal the thunder of a new parent'

Don't comment of stuff referencing a pregnancy that is not yet common knowledge e.g. "Older, this would be nice for baby" on a post about a baby gear giveaway

Don't tag a colleague in a way that gives away their workplace address

Don't express your sorrow at the death of someone before the family announce it, and have told the rest of the relatives.

Don’t post pictures of anyone, but particularly children without express permission from the person, or parent/guardian. Better still if you can get them to sign a consent form.

don't bury your head in your phone when you are visiting someone's house or out for dinner with them. Don't keep compulsively reaching for your phone when you are talking to someone. The world will still go on if you don't update your instagram stories. Don't post mean photos of people in public (photos when they look bad or shoving food in their mouth or yawning or dozing off, or generally unaware of you taking creep shots), don't film people without their knowledge.

older ooh cringing a bit

category12 oh dear that's worse than announcing someone else's new baby, which at least is happy news

unicorn yes eg children's party photos - must be a minefield nowadays

Ana yes they could all be new commandments - just need "thou shall not" in front of them all!

How I found out about my uncle's death.

Don't our wedding photos up before the bride.

Don't gossip about what's happening in your local area.
When my dd was murdered the town's Facebook page was full of people gossiping and talking about it. I read those hurtful lies. I understand people will talk but they should remember a family who they dont even know have been left heartbroken.

ParkheadParadise I am so so sorry. So sorry for your unimaginable loss and also that you had to witness idle gossip. That is beyond issues of etiquette. People need to realise that local news is about real people and real tragedies. I'm sure everyone on Mumsnet sends you their sympathy.

category12 sorry you heard about your uncle's death in that way.

ParkheadParadise Have you contacted any organisations that help bereaved parents? See this link www.suddendeath.org/guides-for-suddenly-bereaved-people/bereavement-directory and scroll down to United Kingdom - includes childdeathhelpline.org.uk/ and
www.samm.org.uk/

ParkheadParadise I am so very sorry, both for the horrific loss of your daughter, and that she was gossiped about. I’m not really one for Facebook, but I will make sure not to ever gossip or speculate about such things. I’m so sorry 💐

Thanks @ThinkingCat
I think some people just love to be centre of attention,and its so easy now to sit behind a keyboard and talk shite basically. In the end my sister contacted the admin of the page and got it taken down,but it was too late as I'd already seen it.

Do not ever post pictures of children.