Netvettvang

Netvettvang is a Norwegian term that describes an online arena or platform intended to encourage civil, safe, and responsible behavior in digital environments. The word blends nett (net) with vettvang (arena or venue), and in practice it denotes spaces—such as school digital portals, community forums, or social platforms—where clear rules of conduct are established and enforced to guide interaction online.

The main aim of a nettvettvang is to promote respectful communication, reduce harassment and misinformation, protect personal data, and strengthen digital literacy among users, with particular emphasis on children, students, and active online communities.

Common features include a published code of conduct or netiquette guidelines, active moderation, and accessible reporting mechanisms for abuse or privacy violations. Many nettvettvangs provide educational resources on topics such as privacy, copyright, cyberbullying, critical thinking, and safe sharing of information. Accessibility and privacy safeguards, age-appropriate settings, and transparency about moderation decisions are typical design considerations.

Management and governance of a nettvettvang vary; they may be hosted by schools, libraries, municipalities, NGOs, or online platforms that adopt digital citizenship policies. The term is descriptive rather than a formal certification and is often used in discussions about digital citizenship and netiquette in Norway. It aligns with broader nettvett initiatives aimed at promoting safe and responsible online behavior.

See also: Nettvett, netiquette, digital literacy, online safety.