About the creator
About the creator
The Internet Manifesto
The Internet Manifesto
If you know how to behave to someone on the internet, you know how to behave to someone in person as well.
If you know how to behave to someone on the internet, you know how to behave to someone in person as well.
Why the project?
Online, we are tempted to do many things that cannot be done practically in real life. It would be playing a hyper-realistic video game or commenting on your idol's social media post. With more and more virtual experiences, our behaviour patters are being influenced in a rapid way. You might think you might not leave any traces but, there's no pleasure without any consequences. But you must understand that the other person on the screen might be the victim of your immediate repercussions, which could carry on for the rest of their life. Before each comment or action you take on the internet, ask yourself, ask your conscience if this is the right thing to do. Would you do this to anyone in person? Confront your brain. Confront yourself.
I believe many crimes could be resolved just by listening to your pure, deep conscience at any given moment.
Online, we are tempted to do many things that cannot be done practically in real life. It would be playing a hyper-realistic video game or commenting on your idol's social media post. With more and more virtual experiences, our behaviour patters are being influenced in a rapid way. You might think you might not leave any traces but, there's no pleasure without any consequences. But you must understand that the other person on the screen might be the victim of your immediate repercussions, which could carry on for the rest of their life. Before each comment or action you take on the internet, ask yourself, ask your conscience if this is the right thing to do. Would you do this to anyone in person? Confront your brain. Confront yourself.
I believe many crimes could be resolved just by listening to your pure, deep conscience at any given moment.
The Spark
This project came to life after watching “Cyber hell exposing an internet horror” a documentary available on Netflix in Nov 2023. When you are a victim of sextortion or cyberstalking you would get trapped in a place where you would be alone, depressed, delusional, and is forced to engage with the predator. After reading through more papers, it brought back memories of cyberbullying, scams and manipulation that happened to me over the internet and social media from the past years. I asked myself why humans are so evil and had a very strong urge to do something about it. I also felt that I hold a higher level of responsibility as a designer within tech.
Hence after 6 months, here is something that I would like to start the project with, a Internet Manifesto!
This project came to life after watching “Cyber hell exposing an internet horror” a documentary available on Netflix in Nov 2023. When you are a victim of sextortion or cyberstalking you would get trapped in a place where you would be alone, depressed, delusional, and is forced to engage with the predator. After reading through more papers, it brought back memories of cyberbullying, scams and manipulation that happened to me over the internet and social media from the past years. I asked myself why humans are so evil and had a very strong urge to do something about it. I also felt that I hold a higher level of responsibility as a designer within tech.
Hence after 6 months, here is something that I would like to start the project with, a Internet Manifesto!
The Manifesto
The Internet Manifesto is built upon three guiding principles that shape how we should navigate the digital world. Together, Ethical, Empathy, and Empowerment serve as a compass for creating a safer, more thoughtful, and responsible online environment. Togain the attention of young people, the Manifesto is designed in a colorful theme with tech and comic asthetics.
The Internet Manifesto is built upon three guiding principles that shape how we should navigate the digital world. Together, Ethical, Empathy, and Empowerment serve as a compass for creating a safer, more thoughtful, and responsible online environment. Togain the attention of young people, the Manifesto is designed in a colorful theme with tech and comic asthetics.
3 themes
3 themes
Ethical
Favor security over convenience.
Negligence leads to chaos.
Think before clicking that flashy button.
It's a place to flourish and not a place to live.
Always Real Life first!
The Ethical category forms the foundation of responsible behavior in the digital world. It emphasizes the importance of making conscious choices that align with moral values, even when behind a screen. In a space where anonymity often tempts individuals to bypass real-world standards, ethical guidelines remind us that our actions online carry weight and consequence. This category focuses on fostering a sense of accountability and encourages users to act with integrity, respecting others’ privacy, rights, and digital boundaries. Dividing this principle as its own category ensures that the manifesto speaks directly to the need for personal responsibility and integrity in every digital interaction.
The Ethical category forms the foundation of responsible behavior in the digital world. It emphasizes the importance of making conscious choices that align with moral values, even when behind a screen. In a space where anonymity often tempts individuals to bypass real-world standards, ethical guidelines remind us that our actions online carry weight and consequence. This category focuses on fostering a sense of accountability and encourages users to act with integrity, respecting others’ privacy, rights, and digital boundaries. Dividing this principle as its own category ensures that the manifesto speaks directly to the need for personal responsibility and integrity in every digital interaction.
Empathy
Forget the screen in front of you.
Everybody DOES have a private space.
You are still talking to a human.
Your conscience is your best ally.
There’s always someone to listen to you if you seek.
The Empathy category is about recognizing the humanity behind every screen. It challenges the disconnect that often happens online, where people forget that there are real emotions, real lives, and real vulnerabilities on the other side. By cultivating empathy, the manifesto aims to reduce cyberbullying, hate speech, and emotional harm. This category is essential because without fostering empathy, ethical behavior often lacks depth.
The Empathy category is about recognizing the humanity behind every screen. It challenges the disconnect that often happens online, where people forget that there are real emotions, real lives, and real vulnerabilities on the other side. By cultivating empathy, the manifesto aims to reduce cyberbullying, hate speech, and emotional harm. This category is essential because without fostering empathy, ethical behavior often lacks depth.
Empowerment
Step out. Speak up.
Take control of what’s yours.
Stay informed and pass it on.
Your thoughts and actions matter.
The Empowerment category is designed to give users, particularly children and young adults, the tools and confidence to protect themselves and others in the digital realm. It highlights the importance of knowledge about cybersecurity, privacy, and digital rights and how that knowledge can transform online well-being. This category stands alone because the ultimate goal of the manifesto isn’t just to instruct, but to inspire action and self-assurance, encouraging users to take charge of their digital lives with courage and awareness.
The Empowerment category is designed to give users, particularly children and young adults, the tools and confidence to protect themselves and others in the digital realm. It highlights the importance of knowledge about cybersecurity, privacy, and digital rights and how that knowledge can transform online well-being. This category stands alone because the ultimate goal of the manifesto isn’t just to instruct, but to inspire action and self-assurance, encouraging users to take charge of their digital lives with courage and awareness.
Download the Internet Manifesto here
Download the Internet Manifesto here
Download the Internet Manifesto here
Click here
Next steps?
Enhancements of the digital website (adding resources and general UX)
Contiuing to talk about the projects with reserachers and industry leaders.
Further research in verticals
Collbrating with like minded organisations and folks
Please reach out, if you would like to share any ideas or thoughts.
Further Reading
