Our Digital Footprint Matters
We live in an age where many of us take our personal and work lives online. Knowingly or unknowingly, our activities on the Internet leave data traces for others to track and follow, and over time, these traces affect our online reputation. It is important to understand how our digital footprint might impact us and take control to protect it.
Image source: https://www.needpix.com/photo/637339/social-media-world-communication-together-community-graphic-colorful-about-worldwide
How might our digital footprint affect us?
Some organizations track our online usage behind the scene and build profiles about us. For example, Amazon uses our location, browsing history and transaction statistics to recommend products to us. However, the goal of these profiles is to increase the company’s profit, not to benefit us. The information may even be shared with other organizations without our consent. Our privacy is unknowingly violated.
Image source: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1566887
To form an accurate impression of a candidate, many employers check his or her online presence during the screening process. If there is a discrepancy between our resume and digital footprint, the employer may see it as a warning sign and question our integrity. We may be disqualified as a result, even if our professional skills meet the job criteria. An inappropriate comment online can even cost a job we already hold!
Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/egaroa/11949408596
In addition to future employers, many universities and colleges also evaluate the digital footprint of their candidates. In other words, outstanding academic achievement is not enough. For example, if we want to apply for a competitive scholarship but our digital footprint is negative, it may decrease our chances of getting it.
How to take control of our digital footprint?
Strategy #1
Our digital footprint is often perceived as an honest reflection of our personality and values. The first step to protect our online reputation is to avoid things that give a negative impression, such as mentioning of drugs and alcohol, discriminatory comments, offensive language, and sexually explicit photos. Bad grammar and heavy use of abbreviations also affect others’ impression on our professionality, so we should pay attention to avoid them.
Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/togawanderings/6988486459
Strategy #2
Maintaining a positive digital footprint also requires us to regularly assess our online activities because data traces of us can come from contents that are shared by others, such as the posts including our names, the stories others write about us, and the photographs in which we are tagged. We should search ourselves from time to time and deactivate any unused online accounts. We should also check our privacy settings and remove sensitive information from active online accounts. Strong passwords are necessary to protect ourselves from hackers. It is also a good idea to erase cookies and browsing histories regularly to prevent over-exposure of personal information.
Strategy #3
To build a consistent persona, we should leave positive comments online, blog our experiences, and offer our expertise whenever possible. This increases our visibility and helps us find people with similar interests or skills, which may open more opportunities in the future.
What else should we know?
Our digital footprint can promote or hinder us in the future. Information on the Internet is far-reaching and hard to retract. We don’t really have a private life online. For example, our comments and pictures that are protected by our privacy settings can be screen-captured or downloaded by our “friends” without us knowing. They can reshare them, and their friends can do the same. However, avoiding our online presence is not a solution. Rather, we should be vigilant and take advantage of the power of our digital footprint to build our credibility and spread our message.
Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/donkeyhotey/5816482161
References
- https://ca.norton.com/internetsecurity-privacy-clean-up-online-digital-footprint.html
- http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cycp-cpcj/is-si/index-eng.htm
I really liked the pictures you used, especially the one that says ” if it’s on the internet, it isn’t private”.
All of your answers were very well written. Good job!
Thanks you for your kind words, Ashley!
Thank you for sharing your commentary on how to monitor your online use and how to maintain a credible digital footprint. Below are some observations about your post:
– Details or explanations are extremely effective in answering the three questions regarding responsible online use
– Photos and or media is exemplary
– Great job engaging others in your post with commentary
– Post is completed and is EXCELLENT!
Thank you,
Mr. Barazzuol
COL Teacher for ADL10
Riverside Secondary School