Digital Footprints
Ever wonder how much other people know about you, just from what you’ve posted online? What about how it can impact your safety in the future? In this short post we’ll be looking at the main points of a digital footprint, why your digital footprint matters, and how you can begin taking control of the information you’re sharing online.
Special thanks to Giblet, a long-term member of The Homeschooler’s Chat, for collaborating on this post. You can see input and tips from Giblet, who gathered quotes and videos for this post, below.
What is a digital footprint?
A digital footprint – sometimes called a digital shadow or an electronic footprint – refers to the trail of data you leave when using the internet. It includes websites you visit, emails you send, and information you submit online. A digital footprint can be used to track a person’s online activities and devices.
Kaspersky.com
Understanding the trail you leave online can be an important part of both staying safe and learning how to control what others can view about you on the internet. Check out the video below, posted by Lyceum of the Philippines University. Giblet recommends this as a fast way to understand the basics of a digital footprint.
Why is my digital footprint important?
Giblet’s tip: Your digital footprint is important because it is a record through your digital services of what you have posted, commented, or just simply have interacted with through socials which can be possibly seen by others like employers!
A digital footprint is the user trail of data, created as a result of your online activity. This includes websites visited, searches made, social media posts, as well as any other interactions that are recorded by digital devices.
Malwarebytes.com
“This shows how your digital footprint could leave a bad run on you if not careful,” Giblet says, in reference to Malwarebytes.com‘s above information. Giblet recommended the YouTube video below by Common Sense as an easy and quick way to learn about what a digital footprint is and why it matters.
How can I take control of my digital footprint?
Key choices you can make moving forward to reduce your digital footprint include:
- Think about what you’re sharing online. Consider if what you’re posting online is personal enough that you should keep it in private circles. Details about yourself – like where you live, your full name, places you visit often, and your age or birthday – are things to consider carefully before sharing.
- Opt-out of giving away details about yourself for free content online. Some websites offer surveys which you can take in order to receive a virtual reward, like in-game currency for video games. Think carefully before giving away real information about yourself for this purpose.
- Always avoid unsafe websites. Learn how to recognize unsafe websites as a part of this step.
- Never let others convince you to share more than you’re comfortable with! Whether this is someone you’ve met online or a close family member, you never have to share more than you want to. Your information is rightfully yours to control. Someone online is trying to pressure you into sharing personal information is a huge red flag, both when it comes to safety and your mental health.
Remember: things you post online are permanent!
Always be mindful online and keep your own safety as a top priority! Things you share online right now can come back to impact you in the future. Staying mindful today can save you so much stress years from now. For more tips on online safety, check out this article from kidshealth.org.
Cover image by: Ekaterina Belinskaya on Pexels.com
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