How might your digital footprints affect your future opportunities?

In this day and age everyone leaves behind a digital footprint on the internet regardless if it is an accurate representation of who you are or want to be known for. In some cases this digital footprint can leave the internet with damaging images or posts to your online reputation. More specifically when applying to a university or job offering potential employers due tend to look at your social media accounts and inappropriate photos or comments can drastically change their opinion or decisions. Another situation like this could also arise when you are looking to rent a house from someone or are receiving an award from school and they have become uninterested due to your posts. However creating a memorable online persona by posting positive images of yourself will allow others to see you in a dignified and professional manner.

Strategies to keep your digital footprint safe and appropriate:

The first strategy I will use to keep my digital presence appropriate is thinking before I post or comment. Its not new advice, but thinking carefully before posting plays a very important role in looking after your online persona. So I will try and hold back on posting an inappropriate image or offensive comment. In addition to this, I will attempt to stay on top of things which is yet another helpful strategy. This can be achieved by deleting old accounts that you haven’t used in a while, deleting old posts and checking your online accounts frequently. This will help maintain a positive public image of myself. Lastly I could ask a friend or family member’s opinion if what I am about to post or comment is applicable and respectful to others.

Information I would like to share:

A piece of information I have learned and would like to pass on, is that a digital footprint is relatively permanent and the user has little control of how it will be used by others. What I have learned from others, who are older than me, is that all your posts will come back to haunt you in one way or another. Not even the Prime Minister could cover up his digital footprint from his younger years. In order, to shield yourself from unpleasant future situations protect your digital presence by using strategies that maintain a clean and respectful online presence. Your digital footprint should be a positive and appropriate space with posts and images you are proud of to this day.

 

Image sources (in order from first to last):

Image of footprints on the sand was posted by Min An –

https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-foot-prints-on-sands-photo-723997/

Image of university degree was posted by DNY59 –

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/gold-tassel-and-rolled-diploma-with-red-ribbon-gm182670281-1367098?utm_campaign=srp_photos_limitedresults&utm_content=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pexels.com%2Fsearch%2Fdiploma%2F%3Forientation%3Dportrait&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=pexels&utm_term=diploma

Image of person holding a trophy was posted by DigitalSoul –

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/holding-gold-trophy-gm1139813965-304783930?utm_campaign=srp_photos_limitedresults&utm_content=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pexels.com%2Fsearch%2FTrophy%2F%3Forientation%3Dlandscape&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=pexels&utm_term=trophy

Image of person scrolling on their phone was posted by cottonbro –

https://images.pexels.com/photos/5054355/pexels-photo-5054355.jpeg?cs=srgb&dl=pexels-cottonbro-5054355.jpg&fm=jpg

Image of two women collaborating was posted by Andrea Piacquadio –

https://images.pexels.com/photos/3831879/pexels-photo-3831879.jpeg?cs=srgb&dl=pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3831879.jpg&fm=jpg

Image of two women jumping in the sunset was posted by Jill Wellington –

https://www.pexels.com/photo/sunset-beach-people-sunrise-40815/