The digital social commons is a shared resource, a space for communication, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas. Like any commons, it is susceptible to pollution. Misinformation, disinformation, low-quality content, and bad-faith actors can degrade the quality of the network, making it more difficult to find and engage with valuable information.
Network hygiene is the practice of actively managing this digital commons to preserve its integrity. It is not about censorship or the suppression of dissent. It is about creating a healthy and productive environment for communication.
There are several key components to network hygiene:
- Signal boosting: Amplifying high-quality, informative, and constructive content.
- Noise reduction: Muting, blocking, or otherwise disengaging from low-quality, disruptive, or harmful content.
- Verification and fact-checking: Actively seeking to verify information before sharing it, and correcting misinformation when it is encountered.
- Constructive engagement: Engaging in good-faith dialogue, even with those with whom you disagree.
- Protocol development: Establishing and enforcing clear community standards and norms of behavior.
Network hygiene is a collective responsibility. It is not something that can be imposed from the top down. It requires the active participation of all members of the network. By practicing good network hygiene, we can create a more vibrant, informative, and resilient digital social commons.
