What is Your Digital Footprint?

BryanDigital Literacies

What is a Digital Footprint?

Common Sense Media: Digital Footprint Intro from Joaquin E. Jutt on Vimeo.

A digital footprint is the collection of all the traces you leave in electronic environments as you use or move through them. Some is content you actively volunteer—like your Facebook profile. Other material is passive—the cookies a site stores in your browser, the content your district collects about your use of their equipment, etc. All this data can be aggregated to build a profile of you and your behavior.

(Courtesy of http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/04/a-great-guide-on-teaching-students.html)

True Story

Read: One Stupid Tweet…

Task #1

After watching both of the video’s above and reading the article, leave a comment on the blog post about something you found interesting or something you learned. Did you prefer one video over the other? Do you agree or disagree with the information provided? What are your initial thoughts and feelings about what has been presented?

Before you COMMENT take time to THINK about what you POST

Task #2

You are going to write your first post. Your first post is about your digital footprint. Think about the following:

  • If we were to look you up online what would we learn about you ?
  • What things make up your digital footprint?
  • Is your digital footprint positive or negative?
  • Is there anything you would change with your digital footprint?

– Give your post a great title (Something related to digital footprints)

– Make sure you use categories and tags! (Categorise this post in Portfolio, Tag this post with a least 3 tags, embed a video about digital footprints

(Courtesy of http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/04/a-great-guide-on-teaching-students.html)

Task #3

In groups of 2-3, you are going to comment on 2-3 other students blog posts about their digital footprints. You already know how to comment, remember to THINK before you comment. In order to access other students blogs, all you need is their username, simply type in the students username at the end of the URL, and it will take you directly to their blog. See the example below, student usernames consist of their first name, last initial -2013 (e.g. gracef-2103)

Tips for Managing Your Footprint

(Courtesy of http://www.teachthought.com/technology/a-simple-acronym-for-encouraging-digital-citizenship/)

Some Other Things to Think About

  • Never post anything that you might find embarrassing later.
  • Be careful with the pictures you post on your public profiles. Remember others will see them and judge you based on their content.
  • Change the privacy settings on your social networking sites so that only your Friends can see your information
  • Do not disclose your personal address, phone number, passwords. Bank card numbers…etc even in private messages. There is always the possibility of somebody hacking into your account and finding them.
  • Do not post things to bully, hurt, blackmail, insult, or afflict any kind of harm on others
  • Always keep in mind that once information has been posted online, it can be almost impossible to remove because of archiving and file sharing. Even though you deactivate your accounts, the information may still be retrieved by others.

Additional Resources

Riverside Safety and Appropriate Use of Technology Poster: Tech Appropriate Poster

Digital Citizenship for Teens: Click Here

Cybraryman Digital Footprints: Click Here

Your Digital Presence: Click Here

138 thoughts on “What is Your Digital Footprint?”

  7. The video scared me a little bit and made me think about everything I’ve ever posted. I’m for sure going to be thinking about my posts more carefully.

  11. I’ve already known this and I’ve always been cautious but social media still gets the best of me sometimes. I use too much of my time on it sometimes even though I’m not supposed to. But before I do something online, I do think about it and that it will leave a digital footprint.

    Another thing is, on my hotmail , when I’m reading my emails, it’s like the Internet read the information in them and pop up ads that are relating to them asking me if I want to go somewhere or buy something.

  12. It’s very informative but kind of scary at the same time. I know that when you delete something it’s not really gone and I always try to think about what I am posting before it is up for everyone to see.

  13. I think that it is scary how much of our personal information is online and how it goes on even after we die. It makes me wonder what kind of a person people think I would be if they have never mett me and just saw my digital foot print.

  15. I never knew it started when I was born, I always knew that when you ‘delete’ things its not really deleted but I never knew that your digital footprint started when you were a baby.

  20. We as humans all have the instinct “Fight or Flight” instinct in us. Everyone has a breaking point, while for some it’s harder to reach, we all have one. When people are being rude to us, mean to us, or insensitive, we all get that urge to spit out some hurtful words, or lash out with hurting the other in mind. We as humans will never be perfect, however… We can strive to be better. Sure, knocking some heads or knocking someone down a peg is good every once in a while, we gotta remember, we are NOT the barbarians or apes that we once were (No disrespect intended to the non-believers of evolution). Fighting people, insulting people, bullying, or tormenting people just because they think, look, or act differently than you is NOT okay! There are always gonna be different people than you. I mean, imagine how bored we would be if everyone in the world was an exact copy of you. Bullying because of differences has always been a problem in the world. We as a society are better than pushing someone to the point where they would wanna harm or kill themselves! That doesn’t make us humans… It makes us cold, heartless, savages. I don’t think anyone deserves pain and suffering. Or endless torment. Before we decide to spit venom in someone’s face, or physically abuse them,

    THINK.

    We all make better choices when we are calm. So before you re-act…

    THINK.

  24. I have learned about my digital footprint before and I have always been cautious. However, when I look on the internet I realise that my digital footprint is still much bigger than I expected it to be. Even though I am very careful about what say (even in instant messages) all of the things that I said showed up online. It’s so crazy to think that the social media sites that we trust are not as private as we think that they are.

  30. I looked on google images and could not find any pictures of myslef wich is good 😀 and im not surprised because idont have that many social medias

  32. I was surprised by how much of me was actually on google. The videos showed me that even though all my accounts are private, there’s a lot of things about me online.

  33. im actually so disappointed there is nothing about me on google, it’s like all the hours I spend online mean nothing to the internet. But on the other hand I guess it’s good? Maybe? Probably. Anyways, the videos were cool, im glad that soon it’ll be like everyone is a robot.

  36. It is very interesting that before you are born there is already a digital footprint for you. Even though there is no way to not have a digital footprint, I will not post things all willy nilly and use the THINK diagram.

  38. I learned a lot about the internet and how powerful it is which is good and bad. I think that how everything saves makes sense because it makes you think about what you are going to post.

  39. I think that the video was very Interesting. I didn’t really know how much of myself was actually on the internet. But most of the pictures and things are from my mother. I was actually quite surprised that all of my life could be on the internet. When I use the internet, I don’t really like to share personal information about myself, I don’t even use my real name. I try to be as secretive as I can about my identity when I use the internet. But I just don’t like to share a lot of things about myself publicly, But if you would like to share information about yourself, I don’t mind as long as you know what you’re doing.

  41. I’ve already known about my digital footprint because in middle school, we already talked about it and even though I wasn’t being very cautious, I have started in middle school to be cautious. I don’t use my real last name on some of my social medi accounts so if you try to find me, it doesn’t really show up. That’s why when I searched myself, I barely found anything. Even though I did that, as soon as I typed my username for Instagram, everything showed up even the posts I deleted, I kind of expected it but it was still shocking.

  42. My Name is Christopher
    The fourth amendment of the US Constitution and Section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects us from Unreasonable search and seizures while 5th amendment and Section 13 protects from self incrimination so for the government to do this is megalomaniacal and unconstitutional. Oh shoot the NSA is reading this but I have my first amendment rights and Section 2 rights of Freedom of Speech.

    1. Uhh… that wasn’t even the point of the videos, and when has the law ever stopped the government? The law is basically worthless when the ones who created it are breaking it.

  43. I found it so mind blowing that everything that is posted, from when we were born to when we die, will be permanent on the Internet. I never knew that all the photos/comments that I was tagged in on Instagram would show up on google. Even direct messages showed up!!

  44. Its both creepy and amazing that everything you’ve ever done is recorded. It would be kind of interesting to see your own digital footprint printed out in a book from birth to present.

  45. The video was very interesting, but I think that the inability to delete your posts is not the problem, I think the problem is how ridiculously easy it is to access them.

  47. I learned that your digital information and dossier can be shared to everyone, including people you don’t even know. I found the videos interesting. We have to be careful of what we post, even if we delete it, it stays on the internet forever.

  50. Its mind blowing to know there will always be a way to track some from any where in the world and basically know anything you want to know about them. Scary.

  54. Blogging is a powerful communication tool that offers so much potential to demonstrate who you are and what you represent. It requires however discipline and thoughtfulness in order to avoid it becoming something negative.

  57. Its better not to post things that you want people to see because you will never be able to delete them. The video are good to know people shouldn’t post bad things.

  58. After watching these two videos, I learned a lot more than I did before about how everything you do is stored and they track what you do on the internet. I knew somewhat that we were being monitered but not everything and it’s scary to know this now but great because I am so young, so know I know to think before i post anything on social media.

  59. I just learned I was tracked scince I was born or even before. This is really scary. I guess people just don’t let others in their privacy. This just opened my eyes and I am really thankful knowing this. I just learned how big the Internet can be and who sees what in them. I have to be more careful!
    Wierd but knowledge full video im glad I saw it.

  61. Mostly I knew about the digital footprint but I learned some new stuff too like how google can track your ip address. Im not a facebookie or tweetie or whatever the term is, I do have it, but I never go on it anymore. But these videos have opened up my mind to the effects of the digital footprint. Thanks mr.gee

  63. It makes you really think twice before you post or search for something on the internet. This video also is informative of the ways that the internet could track you down from when you were born.

  66. These videos were very informative and makes me wonder how big my digital footprint is and wether I want all those social networking sites. After watching these videos I’m definitely going to think before I post.

  67. I was really shocked me that everything you search for on google gets recorded. I was surprised that your digital footprint starts before you are born.

  72. I thought this video was really well done, and I can’t believe that your digital foot print started even before you were born. It makes you think if you really want to have that picture , or all those multiple social networking accounts

  74. After watching these two video I’m actually surprised that the things we post on the internet or the things we search are perminent. I guess I just never realized that everyone can see what you post. You just have to be safe on the internet. It really makes me think. Do I really want this on the internet?

  76. I learned that it’s not as safe as I though it was. It starts before you’re born and follows you after your death. It’s very interesting the way everything you search or do is saved.

  77. This video kinda creeped me out because I didn’t know it started before I was born. I’ll make sure to careful what I post and what I do on the internet or any social medias. ;-;

  79. I thought it was interesting to know that everything you do online kept stored and it started even before I was born. I will make sure now to always be more careful about what I post because you cant delete it

  82. This video told me that I have to be very careful about anything that I post on the internet. It is very interesting and a little scary to know that it can start before you are even born! It also shows that you don’t have as much privacy as you may think you have.

  84. I found that the videos we were shown told us important information about how we should use the internet in a safe way. It was good to learn this information since we are starting to use technology for school. Although, it was kind of scary to learn that everything you do online will be recorded and stored.

  87. They want us to think about those videos so we are careful with what we post on the internet. That is scary that you get a digital foot print before you are born.

  88. It is interesting to understand HOW you can post something on the internet and even though it says it was deleted, it was probably still viewed by someone and isn’t actually removed, it just makes it so no on can see it. Its kind of like in someone’s computer and they just don’t know it.

  89. It can be unsettling to think about your digital footprint, that everything you’ve done digitally is out there for good, and the idea is good motivation to be smart about what you do online. These videos, though they didn’t necessarily teach me anything I didn’t already know, were informative and hopefully a good wake up call for those in need of one.

  90. It’s kind of startling to know that anything you post online can be found by anyone (Provided it isn’t protected) These videos were quite informative.

  91. I thought those 2 videos were very informative. I now know that anything you post on the internet can sometimes be seen by everyone and can never be erased. Also I didn’t know that your digital footprint starts when you were born.

  92. That video was soo scary. I can’t belive that you have a digital footprint before you are born. I learned to be more careful when commenting online.

  96. I’d like to point out that this exaggerates and unreasonably makes people think that everyone can access all information that you have. Your Google searches are documented to your IP and that is not appropriated to your name, it let’s a PROGRAM know what to advertise and does not open it up to a single person. Facebook accounts are stored after they are deleted, but nobody is able to access that if they want to. Your pictures can be deleted, but those are stored by facebook for about a month, but only they can access this and they simply don’t have somebody look at everything that has been on facebook. If somebody knows your name and you posted your picture on the internet, then you wanted it to be possible for people to see that if they know who you are. If you don’t then you can keep it secure using facebook or instagram’s settings. Everything you share, is stuff you wanted to share. So it gets shared. Nobody is going to see that randomly. Honestly, people have taken the info in this video literally and there was no consideration within it. Take a moment.

  100. This video really opened my eyes to all the danger out there that can be frightening and now I’ve realized that whatever you post on the internet can be seen by Anyone and now I’m am more aware of the danger out there

  102. Privacy is very important I think. Its really scary of you think about it. Millions of people can see where you post it, and what you post. Secondly, you can’t erase anything you put online. I think that’s the scariest part. Really scary!!

  103. I think it’s kind of creepy how someone could just type up your name and they would have a bunch of information about you. I knew about the whole leaving a digital footprint/dossier thing but I didn’t know it started before I was born. I feel like its invading someone’s privacy in a way.

    1. You could stop generalizing and think about what info they would have. If you shared a photo to everyone and not just your friends (you can choose) then that is what you decided. If they find a blog of yours, then you wanted them to find that. If they know your name, then they will know the things that you posted freely. If you Google your name, then decide if any of that is something you don’t want someone who has heard of to know.

  104. The video was very interesting, especially the second one that got me thinking about my digital footprint. It starts so early and ends so late, and you can never remove it.

  106. The video I have just watch got me thinking about the digital foot that I’m leaving in my life . I have realized that things post on any social media site , can be seen by everyone. once it theres it can ever go away .

  107. After watching the video, I felt really unsafe. I learned that the social media, today is not always the safest option to communicate to other people.

  110. That video was very interesting, it showed me that everything you post is got there and the company can use however they like. Even before you were born you already had a digital footprint formed.

  112. I realize that privacy doesn’t really exist anymore, even if you were very careful about digital footprint, there would still be people that have access to your information.

  113. I realized that you can never truly be invisible and even if you have never posted anything or made any accounts yourself (which is not likely anyways), there’s still a digital dossier of yours out there from things that others may have posted or sent etc.

  115. I think that there is a way to create a positive digital footprint. There are way to many people these day that post pictures or say things on the internet that in the future, just might come back to bite you. Say a possible employer googles your name and comes up with a picture of something you did, that you really don’t want them knowing. Then what do you do?

  116. I thought that the videos were really interesting and informative. I never knew that your digital footprint had even started before you were born and everything that you have ever done is being documented somewhere, even on Google.

  117. I have learned that cameras have the ability to track you just by getting glimpses of your face and that everything altogether that you do on the internet creates a digital footprint that is hidden from you online and stays there forever

  118. I’ve always been aware of the permanent traces people left behind, but I never knew how extreme it was… Those videos had an almost positive tone, which contradicted the point, and might have made it even more scary.

  119. I found it interesting that there is a way to track what you do in your life through a digital footprint, and that you can go back to it and share it with others.

  120. It was eye opening to see how much social networking, the internet and technology affect us today. Almost everyone thinks that whatever we post online can only be seen by our friends. This video shows not only how permanent what we do online is, but also how everyone can see everything we do, one way or another. Like what everyone said, the fact that our digital dossiers begins before and after our life is definitely a major shock, this is yet another piece of information to heighten our awareness of technology.

  121. It was really interested hearing that everything you google is recorded somewhere and it’s eye opening to see that there’s really nothing you can do online without increasing your digital footprint. It’s pretty scary that posting one bad picture or even having a friend post one of you could potentially prevent you from getting say a future job or something.

  123. It was scary to learn that your digital footprint continues long after you die and that other people can post things about you that becomes a part of your digital footprint.

  126. I think it’s scary that everything you do or post on the internet will be out there forever. Every website you visit, every picture you upload, everything you say on the internet will stay there forever, and you can never really be invisible.

  127. I honestly didn’t really know that everything posted was kept there FOREVER. That is kind of creepy and it sounds like some kind of stalker is stalking me. Thank you for raising my awareness… I’ll need to learn to think about what I post.

  128. It really surprised me that my digital dossier begins before I am even born! So I will make sure I post responsibly to create a very positive digital footprint.

  129. Those videos was really informative about your digital footprint & dossier. It really intrigued me to know that your digital dossier starts even before you are born. I think that this information is really important to know so in the future we can supervise ourselves before we post anything.

  130. After watching these videos, I’m so glad I have no social media. I already knew most of this because I read a book called “The Googlization of everything”. It’s very informing.

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