How to Be Mature Online

You are online and you are worried people won't be nice to you because of your age. Here's how to be mature online.

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 Steps

1. 1
   Never bully. Bullying is the number one sign of immaturity. Sometimes it can take time to learn to deal with conflicts effectively, but learning to restrain from bullying other people online will help you seem more mature online and will also help you in the long run. A good way to start out is by figuring out what qualifies as bullying. Think about online bullying in your own terms, not someone else's. Bullying means something different to everyone, but in general it means being mean in any way.
   • If you feel tempted to bully someone online, think of tactics to help you restrain. Distance yourself as much as possible from the person bothering you, take a deep breath, and step away from the keyboard to calm down.
   • Think before you post. If it will help you release some of your anger, it's okay to type a mean message to someone. Just make sure you don't post it! If you are about to post a message, think about what it says and how those words could be interpreted before you post.
2. 2
   Use proper spelling and grammar. To adults there is nothing more annoying than improper grammar and/or spelling on the internet. Remember that even when you're doing something as inconsequential as commenting on a YouTube video or something as important as writing a wikiHow article, proper capitalization, spelling and a general good use of the English language will always help you seem more mature. If you aren't a good speller, don't let it be an excuse. Use a free online spell checker.
3. 3
   Help out as much as possible. If you've been around a site for a while try to find ways that you can help people out. If they're new, take an interest in them and help them learn the ropes of being included on the site. If someone who's been around even longer than you needs an extra pair of hands setting up a page or conquering a level of game be the one who helps them out. Helping people out is not only a good way to show everyone that you're mature but it's also a great way to gain new skills both online and offline.
4. 4
   Don't brag. When people are insecure they often feel the need to show off how good they are at the little things. When you do this it often just comes off as immature. Let your accomplishments speak for themselves. If you work hard and improve at whatever you're doing you wont need to brag because people will know who you are anyway. When you brag your develop a reputation as annoying and full of yourself, but when you're modest and hard working you will eventually earn the reputation you wanted in the first place.
5. 5
   Use common sense. In general, your gut reaction to things is the right reaction. Sometimes your personal thoughts can fog your common sense, but if you try to see through to your common sense you'll realize that in general if you think something is wrong, it probably is. If you think something is dangerous, it probably is. And if you think it's wrong or dangerous, don't do it!
6. 6
   Be friendly. Even when other people aren't kind to you, you should always be kind to them. When you think about the way you react to other people's immaturity you might realize that your reactions are taken the same way. By being more mature, even when it's annoying and hard to accomplish, it will always make you feel good about yourself and portray you as mature. 

• Take responsibility for your actions. If you accidentally hurt someone's feelings, say you did it, then apologize. No one likes a liar.
• Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself. Sometimes, you have to do the right thing even if you think what you need to do isn't mature. Just do it and you will be the bigger person.