DIGITAL FOOTPRINT
Maddy Birtch 9/14/16
Your digital footprint is something that will stay with you forever. It can either help you, or haunt you. It’s hard to erase, almost impossible. So you’re going to learn today how to keep your digital footprint squeaky clean from the start, before it’s too late.
Today our society is very focused on social media. We use and interact with others on the internet every day, in many different ways. But remember those posts you posted on Instagram thinking they were “private”? Nothing on the internet is private, so it is essential to make sure everything you post online is appropriate and positive.
Your digital footprint, if negative, doesn’t just affect your online reputation. It can also impact your real life reputation and image. You may not think much about it now, but when applying for jobs, universities and scholarships it can have a negative impact. Your digital footprint doesn’t just have the ability to be negative, it can also have positive impact on a future job, when applying. Before accepting you for any of these places your name is usually ran through what is called a “background check”. This is where t
hey look at your past and present to get a better gist of who you are. Jobs and universities may not accept you if your digital footprint contains inappropriate material. Companies definitely don’t want you representing them if you have improper photos, or information on the internet.
A few
ways to assure a safe and appropriate digital footprint is to always think to yourself, “would I want the whole world to see this photo or video?” If you won’t show this photo to everyone, then it probably shouldn’t be going on the internet. You should always be aware and careful about who you let follow you on any social media website. Know that NOTHING on the internet is private, so be picky on what you post, and be smart. You should always have rules for what you post online, and should go by those. Following by a few simple rules can assure a safe, and appropriate online reputation.
If I could pass on any information to others about digital footprints, I would say just to be appropriate. Make sure you know who is following and viewing your photos and always make sure whatever you post is positive and represents the ‘you’ you want the world to see.