| Key Points to Remember | Best Practices |
| 1. Match the seriousness of your message to your communication medium. | Online is best for transmitting quick reminders or messages that require little time and thought to craft. Offline is better for sharing personal information such as engagement announcements or news of health issues. |
| 2. Online communication is not necessarily more efficient. | If your message needs a quick decision or answer, a phone call or a face-to-face conversation may be better. Use online communication if you want the person to have time to respond. |
| 3. Presume that your posts are public. | If you wouldn't want a message to be seen by the general public, don't post it or send it online. |
| 4. Remember that your posts are permanent. | Even after you delete something, it still exists on servers and may be accessible. |
| 5. Practice the art of creating drafts. | Don't feel pressured to answer an e-mail immediately. Taking time to respond will result in a more competently crafted message. |
| 6. Protect your online identity. | Choose passwords carefully and limit the personal information you put online. |
| 7. Protect yourself when online correspondence turns into face-to-face communication. | Exercise caution and common sense when meeting any online acquaintances in person. |