Table of contents
About Grayscale
An invitation to slow down, zoom out, and think deeply about how the internet is forming us.
OpeningLetter
I will teach my kids how to treat others face-to-face. But will those manners translate screen-to-screen?
It was a quiet night in my home on November 8, 2016. While the fireplace warmed the room and my wife went to bed, I scrolled through Facebook, watching the chaos unfold after Donald Trump was elected President. It struck me how different the world online felt from the peace in my living room--and how easily we normalize that difference.
As someone who grew up with AOL, Juno, and GeoCities, I’ve long loved the promise of the internet. But as a dad and a digital creator, I’ve come to realize that something vital is missing from the online world: manners.
Not just politeness for politeness’ sake--but a deep respect for the people on the other side of the screen.
This is a call to reimagine how we treat one another in digital spaces. Not just for ourselves, but for the next generation.
Eric Brown
Co-Founder, Whiteboard
We must remember that the internet is not an end-all, it’s a medium. It’s a tool, not an identity.
"Shame is as old as humankind, but recently something has changed. Shame now moves at lightning speed and with devastating effects."
Jon Ronson
“Unless and until our society recognizes cyberbullying for what it is, the suffering of thousands of silent victims will continue.”
Anna Maria Chavez
The BigPicture
A snapshot of cyberbullying at scale.
1 in 3
Young people across 30 countries report being cyberbullied. (UNICEF, 2019)
#1
Teachers report that cyberbullying is their #1 safety concern in their classrooms according to a recent Google survey. (January 2019)
6 in 10
While nearly 6 in 10 teens report experiencing online harassment, only about 1 in 10 tell their parents or guardians about it. (Pew Research Center)
2X
Cyberbullying victims are nearly twice as likely to experience suicidal thoughts. (WHO)
EmbracingTension
Cyberbullying vs. Netiquette
Cyberbullying
Without intention--an open door for belittling, shaming, or trolling--often anonymous and unchecked. The cumulative effects of constant digital negativity are profound and destructive.
Netiquette
With intention--a conscious practice of kindness, civility, and empathy in digital spaces. It reflects a commitment to respect, even when we disagree.
We live in a digital age that amplifies both cruelty and kindness. Which will we choose to practice?
"Shame is as old as humankind, but recently something has changed. Shame now moves at lightning speed and with devastating effects."
Jon Ronson
“Unless and until our society recognizes cyberbullying for what it is, the suffering of thousands of silent victims will continue.”
Anna Maria Chavez
The Reframe& Resources
Confronting modern cyberbullying.
"Public shaming as a blood sport has to stop," says Monica Lewinsky. In 1998, she says, “I was Patient Zero of losing a personal reputation on a global scale almost instantaneously.” Today, the kind of online public shaming she went through has become constant -- and can turn deadly. In a brave talk, she takes a hard look at our online culture of humiliation, and asks for a different way.
To Know—
- How much cyberbullying you innocently witness online.
- Never forget what you share will be seen and read by many different people in many different circumstances.
- The worth of your comments.
—and do.
- Foster online relationships that result in offline relationships
- Ask more questions. Pursue dialogue, not debate.
- Contribute with purpose, not noise.
ConcludingReflection
Simply said, good manners are behaviors that demonstrate respect and consideration for others.
I was raised with “please” and “thank you,” and a mother who reminded me when I was being selfish or rude. Now, I’m doing my best to pass those same lessons on to my kids--but in a world where the rules aren’t just unwritten, they’re invisible.
The internet trains us to think of ourselves first. What we like. What we think. What we want to share. But the question that matters most--online or offline--is simple: How do you treat others?
Our likes, shares, and comments all add up to something: a reflection of what we value.
You only get one legacy. And whether your interactions are digital or face-to-face, it’s your example--not your opinion--that defines it.
Eric Brown
Co-Founder, Whiteboard
How you act online reflects what you value and believe about the world.
