Three Simple Ways to Make the Internet a Kinder Place
Photo by Ditto Bowo on Unsplash
Have you ever experienced a random act of kindness? An unexpected treat or a simple smile in the hallway?
I remember being in line at Tim Hortons trying to pay when I was told that the person in front of me had already paid for my meal. I was super happy of course, and I decided that I would continue the chain of kindness by paying for the person behind me. I found that the small act of kindness stuck with me all day. Random acts of kindness aren’t just monetary, they can be anything (big or small).
That encounter made me look up and begin to notice all the random acts of kindness around me that I missed before. I realized that so much of the joy that I experience during my day can be traced back to people giving some of their time to make the day a little bit brighter for someone else.
The thing is, it can sometimes seem as though kindness is harder to translate into digital spaces. So often we see comment sections flooded by negativity or chat rooms created to belittle one another. In fact, studies have been conducted to measure the impact of kindness online with consumers of different media platforms.
The Result: Kindness has the power to transform digital spaces and improve mental health (Brandao and Fratantoni, 2024).
How to Practice Digital Kindness
Think Before You Post
A little trick I use before posting anything online is to ask myself a couple of questions. Is this true? Is this necessary? Is this kind? If the answer isn’t yes to any of these questions, it might be best to take a pause from tech and think about why you wanted to post in the first place.
Use Positive Language
Simply changing your vocabulary can do great things in the digital world! Choose words that uplift, encourage, and advocate for others. You’ll find that small changes like these can quickly transform online spaces to be kind and inclusive.
Practice Balance
Showing kindness online also means showing kindness to yourself. It might be good to remember to take some breaks from tech. It can help you feel more productive and connected to the people around you.
Sarah Brown
JOMO Student Intern
