Beyond Awareness: Exploring Netiquette Practices among Adolescents in School Group Chats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33394/jp.v13i4.21460Keywords:
digital citizenship, netiquette education, online behavior, school group chats, teenagersAbstract
This study aims to examine how limited formal netiquette education may contribute to poor netiquette practices among adolescents in school group chats. An exploratory mixed-methods pilot survey was conducted with 30 students from Grades 7 to 12. Data were collected through an online questionnaire comprising closed-ended items and open-ended questions. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages, while open-ended responses were categorized thematically. The findings showed that 86.7% of respondents reported encountering rude language or insults, while 83.3% reported experiencing message or sticker spamming in group chats. Students frequently reported learning online communication behaviors from informal sources, including friends or peers (63.3%), parents or family members (56.7%), and social media or online videos (46.7%), whereas 46.7% identified teachers or school lessons as formal sources of learning. These findings suggest a gap between netiquette awareness and actual digital communication practices. The study highlights the need for explicit, practical, and peer-supported netiquette education as an integral component of school-based digital citizenship programs.
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