We regularly see guidelines in the news about teaching children the importance of being safe on the internet and the importance of social media etiquette; yet surprisingly, new rules for social media have been issued by the Church of England. They have developed nine new commandments in the hope that Christians can use them to keep to their religious values online.
The nine new commandments are:
1. Don’t rush in
2. Remember updates are transient yet permanent
3. You’re an ambassador for the church
4. Don’t hide behind anonymity
5. Think about the blurring of public/private life boundaries
6. Safeguarding: communicating directly online is like meeting someone in private
7. Stay within the legal framework
8. Respect confidentiality
9. Be mindful of your own security
We’re disappointed by the lack of ‘Thou Shalt’, however these guidelines created by the Diocese of Bath and Wells, aim to reduce the number of embarrassing and ‘trolling’ posts created. The rules encourage people to behave online as they would in public stating that “Your actions should be consistent with your work and Christian values and you take responsibility for the things you do, say or write… Ask yourself; is this my story to share? Would I want my mum to read this? Would I want God to read this? Would I want this on the front of a newspaper?”