September 2019 – Julia’s Blog

Brown Sand

How might your digital footprint affect your future opportunities?

Your digital footprint could affect your future opportunities, since if you are applying for a job in the future that you really want, one of the first things your employer will do is look up your name. If your employer doesn’t like what they come across, you are most likely not going to get that job. Then you will start to apply for jobs that you don’t really like, and you might not even be able to land a job at any of those places as well. However, if your employer looks up your name and like what they come across, you will have a better chance at getting the job you always wanted. You could also have a more successful future, since you got your dream job and you’re passionate about what you’re doing.

For example, you’re applying for your dream job. Your employer searches up your name, and your social media accounts show up. They examine it, and find photos of you drinking underage, inappropriate photos, or even find evidence of you bullying or harassing a certain person. You are immediately dismissed from the interview and didn’t get the job you wanted.

Another example is also where you’re applying for your dream job. Your employer looks up your name, and sees your social media accounts. They check it over, and see nothing wrong, and in fact they’re very impressed with what they see. There are no inappropriate videos or photos, and instead see photos of you doing what you’re passionate about. Your interview continues and you have a really good chance of getting the job Man and Woman Shaking Hands

Your digital footprint is really easy to access, and you have to make sure you keep it appropriate.

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

Three strategies that I can use to keep my digital footprints safe is to not give away any personal information on social media, only let my friends follow me on social media, and post only what I am proud to show the internet.

First of all, I should never give away anything very personal on social media, since social media isn’t the safest place to store personal information. If I have something private that I want to share with my friends, I’ll tell them in person, call them, or message them separately. You never know what can happen when you share something online. Even if only people I knew followed me, accounts are still really easy to get into these days, as well as some people who you think you are friends with could easily take this information and share it with people you don’t even know. Brass-colored Metal Padlock With Chain

Second, I should only let my friends, relatives, or people I am close with follow me. It’s better if only people you trust follow you on social media, since if you let strangers follow you, you never know who you could be giving permission to know all about your life. These random people could take my photos and videos, or use them for various dangerous reasons. It’s not safe to let strangers follow you on social media.

Finally, I would only put out something on social media if I was proud of it. I will never put anything that could make me look bad, since people could use these bad things as blackmail and even use it against me. If I were to ever post something that could make me look bad, and then delete it a few minutes later, then it could still be too late. It only takes a couple of seconds for people to take pictures and videos of what you posted. For my digital footprint on the internet and social media, I am going to think before I post and make sure it is something I want others to see and know. Instead I’ll use my digital footprint to my advantage and show my future employers that I am creative and a critical thinker while using it as evidence that I’m telling the truth.

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

I want other students to know that it is very easy to post something now, and have no consequences, however in the future it can definitely impact your life and your job. Students need to know that they should be careful and consider what they are uploading online, or posting on social media. Also that social media is our main digital footprint these days and we have to take care of our accounts, and make sure we don’t do something we will later regret. If I notice students posting photos or videos that may cause trouble later on, I will casually approach them and let them know that what they could be doing is dangerous. I’ll inform them about the dangers of posting private things on social media, and how impactful it can be in the future.

Person Holding Iphone Showing Social Networks Folder Woman in Black Blazer Looking at Woman in Grey Blazer