What is a Digital Footprint? 

A digital footprint is exactly what it sounds like, your digital footprint is made all your online activity, it’s what you leave behind or what you’ve created/done when you went online. Your digital footprint consists of all your pictures, texts, emails, online accounts, private information that you’ve shared with any online source, and even passwords. What a lot of people don’t realize is that your digital footprint is a lot bigger than you think, some people will google themselves and find nothing and think that they don’t have one, but they do. As an example, anything that you’ve searched in your entire life is in some sort of digital database, even if you’ve deleted your browser history. Say you google a question, and you delete it from your history right after, google still has your history in its database, they still know everything you’ve searched. Any text, email, picture, account that you’ve created or taken is a part your digital footprint, there is a way for others to find it even if you’ve deleted it. Your digital footprint can be dangerous to yourself as it can affect and damage your future. What people must accept is that anything that they do on their phone, computer, tablet, etc. Whether it’s taking a photo or commenting on a post, it will go to their digital footprint, it’s in some sort of database, it’s possible that it can be found by others even if you think its private.  

What is my Digital Footprint? 

As I stated above my digital footprint consist of all my texts, photos, emails, online accounts, social media activity, and basically anything that I do on any device. Although this part of my digital footprint would be harder for others to find easily. What I found quite easily on the internet, after doing a few searches, was a picture of myself and others in elementary school receiving an award at an assembly. I had no clue that this photo of me was on the internet, but I looked a bit more into it and found the source of the picture. The source was from my elementary school’s website, categorized under 2016-2017 recognition. Luckily, I don’t mind that photo being on the internet for others to see. 

How might your digital footprint affect your future opportunities? Give at least two examples. 

Your digital footprint can affect your future in a few ways. One of them is your future job opportunities, when a place hires you, they usually do some digging into your digital footprint, they search your name, they go into your social media, etc. If they find something whether it be a picture or a comment that makes you look irresponsible or unsafe, then they can deny your interview, or refuse to give the job. 

Another way that your digital footprint might affect your future is if there is something “inappropriate” on your digital footprint that can be found, it could be a lot harder for you to get into some colleges or universities. As most Universities or colleges are looking for responsible, smart, and outgoing students to add to their classes. 

Your digital footprint can possibly affect your relationships and reputation too. 

Describe at least three strategies that you can use to keep your digital footprint appropriate and safe.  

One way to keep your digital footprint safe is by always thinking about what you’re about to do/create/take/post before you do it. In your head think will this affect me in any possible way if it somehow got out to the online world. Think, if someone that respects me (friend, parents, relative) saw this will it ruin our relationship? Does this make me look bad in any way? 

Another strategy is to double check all your privacy settings to see if they are how you want them. Make sure that they are working in your favor. Always make sure that when you create online accounts, create a strong password that won’t be easily guessed. 

Always make sure to keep all your software up to date. There are viruses and malware programs that are coded to reveal your digital footprint. This can be very dangerous, to protect yourself furthermore from this, consider getting an anti–virus, and always make sure your software is updated. 

What information did you learn that you would pass on to other students? How would you go about telling them? 

I learned that my digital footprint consists of all my online activity. I now know that if I’m not careful my digital footprint can harm my future opportunities, and life. If I were to pass along what I learned, I would tell them how their digital footprint is bigger than they think, and to always be smart and careful when online in any way. I would tell them when they are at risk of putting something bad on their digital footprint. 

Photo Credits: (top to bottom)(all photos taken from pexels.com)

Junior Texieria, Miriam Ficher, (the rest) Pixabay