If you have ever wondered about social norms then you are not alone. It is rather mysterious who dictates what is socially acceptable. It is also a mystery who or what decides when someone or something is pushing those social boundaries.

What exactly are social norms and how does one push those norms? The answer might be right in front of you. Technology is the newest dictator, at least in part, of modern, socially-acceptable behaviors. 

Internet gurus and YouTube sensations are almost as popular and admired as movie stars. This is not necessarily a bad thing until you start to consider some of the material these cyber stars post on the internet. Some of the material might be considered violent, raw and even disgusting, yet has somehow been labeled entertaining by general society. 

If you think about it, there are actual rules of social interaction for being online. If you break those rules, you can banned from websites, forums, chat rooms and social networking sites. It is interesting to note how the cyber world collides with the real world in terms of social norms.

Verbal

Some people spend so much time texting and messaging online that they speak the way they type. For example: “Brb” is stated when they leave the room. Brb means “Be right back”. This is used in texting and messaging and now is said even when face to face with people. Another example is “Lol” which means “Laughing out loud”.

These two examples are some of the most commonly used online lingo that has become part of the spoken language. People hear or see it and immediately know what it means. Some people talk about online events as though they attended in person. The online world is just as real and pertinent as the outside world.  

Video

The advent of video chatting has changed cyber connecting in wonderful ways. Now military, business and long distance families can see and talk to each other. This is a very good thing. Another advantage is people can send videos to their loved ones.

Not all video communications are positive. People can take hidden videos of others and post online without permission. Depending on the subject matter of the video, very little can be done to stop this behavior because it has become a social norm. 

With the internet now being such a large part of modern living, social norms have changed and evolved a great deal. People work, talk, date and play games online. You can do your banking, shopping and make appointments all with a few clicks of the mouse.

The scary part about the cyber life is that people often hide their true identity and this is deemed socially acceptable. The reason it is okay to hide your identity is for your own safety. This is how online stalkers can creep up on you.  

The reality of modern social norms is that if it isn’t posted somewhere online then it isn’t important. There is often a fine line between socially acceptable and pushing the limit. Nowadays, that fine line is even finer and more fuzzy than ever before.