Digital etiquettes

Based on true events.

I was at a family event. My mother asked me to meet an elderly aunt. So I accompanied my mother and both of us went to speak with this elderly aunt. She asked us about what was going on in our lives. I gave only trivial information whereas my mother gave all the specifics and spoke at length. My mother mentioned to her that my sister had given birth to my nephew. The aunt wanted to see his pictures. I opened the gallery of my phone to show her the picture. I specifically opened his picture and showed it to my aunt. She took the phone out of my hand to get a closer look. I did not mind it. But after 20 seconds, she showed me another picture on my phone and asked me who was the guy in the picture (it was a group picture I had received from office group and I was not even in the picture). This really made me angry. It was invasion of digital privacy. I took the phone out of her hands.

I am sure I am not the only one who has experienced this. Every person who has lived in the recent times must have experienced this somewhere. While the pictures are being shown on phone, tab, or laptop people swipe to left or right. Most people only have the curiosity or they want to see more pictures. Most people do not mean any harm and do not have any malicious intent. Yet there would be a lot of people who would be willing to go through your phone. They would be willing to see what is there in your phone. They want to watch all the pictures and videos in your phone with a malicious intent. Though I see this behavior mostly in the elderly crowd, but younger generation is also guilty of doing this. Hence in today's times the people should be taught about digital etiquettes.

We need to educate people about this. When someone is showing you a picture, video, or any digital media for that matter on their device, first we should not take the device out of their hands. If the media is not visible we should politely ask them if they can put the device closer. If the owner of the device is comfortable with this request, then probably they will hand over the device to you. Irrespective of whether the device is in your hands or not, you should not swipe left, right, up, or down. Just see the media which the owner of the device wishes to show you and hand the device back to them. If you are curious and wish to see more, then request them so. Tell them that you would like to see more pictures or videos. Let the decision be at the discretion of the device owner if they wish to show you more pictures or videos. Do not make the decision yourself to swipe through their device and see more pictures. This is invasion of privacy and nothing else. To this I would also like to add something. If you want to swipe anywhere on your own device you have the complete freedom to do that but someone else is device has no business in your hands. Definitely avoid browsing through their device.

This is one simple etiquette that unfortunately needs to be taught in the recent times. It is not only applicable to the elderly generation but even to every generation. Feel free to educate yourself and your family because the charity begins at home.