Netiquette, implication of online emotional content and empathy in adolescents according to gender

Introduction: Education in netiquette (social norms that promote cyber coexistence) has become an alternative proposal for helping prevent online expressions of discrimination and violence. Specifically, empathy and online emotional content are key in antisocial behaviours. Method: Our objective is thus to differentially analyse the relationships between netiquette, online emotional content, and empathy in adolescents according to gender. 774 adolescents (55.4% girls) enrolled in 13 Spanish educational centres participated (M = 13.82 and SD = 1345). Results: Results show that girls achieve higher scores in netiquette, online emotional content, and empathy. E-emotional expression in girls and the facilitating use of e-emotions in boys are exclusionary factors of netiquette; however, the understanding and management of e-emotions for both genders, as well as cognitive empathy in boys, are promoter factors. Conclusions: It would be advisable to educate young people in netiquette, where the moderate use of emotional expression online can be an effective strategy to promote it.