No one wants to act inappropriately, put a foot in their mouth or be called out for being a jerk. When interacting with your neighbors in the Nextdoor online community, here are some handy etiquette tips to follow. (Luckily, they’re easier than remembering which fork should be used when.)
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How People Have Used Nextdoor
People have used Nextdoor to find a missing pet; sell or give away items; ask for and offer service recommendations for plumbers, babysitters, etc.; inform neighbors of the status of power outages or flooded streets; get alerts about petty crime and reminders to lock car doors; and to organize neighborhood events like garage sales or block parties.
In Person and Online
Many of the same rules that apply to in-person neighbor etiquette also apply to the Nextdoor online community:
- Be friendly: Say howdy! Just as a wave hello to the neighbor across the street can prompt positive relations, so too can a digital hello.
- Represent yourself authentically: The Nextdoor online communities are private, and only users with verified local addresses are allowed access. Use your real name, as you would if you were talking in person. This promotes an environment where everyone is representing themselves honestly.
- Gossip is a no-no: Whether it’s chatter done on the sidewalk while you’re walking your dog or it’s done in an online space, gossip is rude behavior. No one wants to be gossiped about, and we’re not in high school anymore.
- Content is for all ages. Some people are more sensitive than others, so a good rule is to avoid profanity and obscene material.
- Don’t be a jerk: It’s a good rule of thumb in general. Plus, neighborly disagreements can be easier to resolve when all parties try to behave kindly and with respect.
- Sharing and generosity: Being neighborly is about helping others. Lending your neighbor a lawnmower can be the first step to building a strong community, and you never know when you’ll need to borrow something in return.
- Be inclusive: It can be awful to feel like you don’t belong or you’re not welcome. Inviting everyone is the nice thing to do, so don’t exclude certain neighbors if you are having a neighborhood gathering.
- Say thank you: Gratitude goes a long way. After you receive that handyman recommendation or the loan of a ladder, be sure to express your thanks. The ‘Thank’ button makes it easy!
And while there is some crossover between in-person and online etiquette, there are also some digital-specific points of etiquette to remember:
Posting Guidelines
- Stay on topic: Comments on posts should stay on the same topic. This makes the online forum more effective. For example, don’t comment on a “yard sale” post with information about a lost dog.
- Keeping the community space tidy: Chaos and disorganization make things harder to navigate and less friendly for readers. For example, after your rocking chair has found a new home, mark your classified listing “sold” and close the discussion.
- Search first to avoid duplicate posts: Maintain focused discussions by building on existing threads of the same topic instead of starting new ones.
- Don’t spam: You may consider your postings to be enthusiastic marketing, but others may not be too keen about your constant promotions. Consider others’ points of view, and avoid over-posting, unsolicited self promotion and business marketing.
- Be mindful of grammar and punctuation: Make sure your posts are clear and easily understood. Avoid using ALL CAPS, which is akin to digital shouting.
Safety
- Be on the lookout: Nextdoor is a great way for neighbors to look out for one another. It’s a digital “Neighborhood Watch” tool; use the online discussion space to promote safety and keep the neighborhood informed of suspicious activity.
- Immediate danger: If you see something that is an immediate threat, first call 9-1-1 to report the incident and request help. Then post an “urgent alert” so other neighbors can be alerted to a possible safety or property risk.
Getting Along With Each Other
- Welcoming your neighbors: When a new person joins, make them feel right at home in your digital community.
- Use groups: Groups are a way to channel conversations on niche topics. For discussions about politics, religion or hobbies, post your message to the relevant group rather than to the main news feed. Not everyone wants to hear about your homebrewing project or your opinions on the city council.
- Mute: Use the “Mute” button to stop seeing posts from a specific member. It’s an easy way to avoid hearing from someone who gets on your nerves, and it can help avoid a negative encounter. (You may even start to wish you had a mute button for in-person conversations.)
- Maintain privacy: Don’t share information on other media channels without your neighbors’ permission.
- Avoid online shaming: Think before you type. Personal cyber attacks cause real harm to victims.
- Ask for help: If you’ve got some concerns or have run into some trouble, the “Lead” for your neighborhood can help moderate discussions and provide guidance.
Remember, growing a vibrant neighborhood is about participation. Your Nextdoor neighborhood page provides a digital space to grow the connections with your neighbors.
Nextdoor is a social network specific to neighborhoods. The free and private digital space has more than 112,000 neighborhood websites across all 50 states. Within these Nextdoor networks, 26% of conversations are recommendations, 19% are classifieds, 16% are about crime and safety issues, 8% lost and found, 8% free items, 7% events and 16% other. Log in today to see what your neighbors are saying.
Source: Nextdoor.com