Reflections on Digital Footprints
Whenever we interact online we are leaving behind a digital footprint that can be difficult, if not impossible, to ever erase, so we need to do our part to protect and establish a positive one. In many ways, our digital history is more like a tattoo than a footprint. When I think of footprints, I think of beaches, and sandy footprints wash away pretty easily leaving none the wiser that you were ever there. Tattoos on the other hand are much more difficult to remove, and many times there is still evidence that a tattoo once existed. Our digital tattoo is created with every click, every post, every interaction we have online and though we might hit delete or clear our browsing history, chances are that information still exists somewhere waiting for the perfect opportunity to be found. The question then is not if we are creating a digital tattoo (because we all are), but rather, how are we building our digital tattoo.
This idea of a digital tattoo is extremely important in our digital era where we enjoy access to so many online resources from shopping to social media to travel planning and more. We have to be aware that we leave a trail, both intentional and unintentional that can be found by others at any point in time. So, it is incumbent upon us to ensure we actively protect our footprint. I love the image posted above this reflection because it is such an important message to understand before posting anything online. We should always ask ourselves: Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? Is it kind? If we all followed these guidelines in any interaction, the internet would be a much better place. However, we can only control our own actions. By choosing to be a responsible and respectful digital citizen, we have less to worry about with our digital tattoo and what people might find out about us.
Unfortunately, the idea of online permanence is difficult for many young people to grasp (and many older ones as well). I work with middle-schoolers who rarely think about the long-term ramifications of their online behaviors. They see something funny, they share it. They see something shocking, they share it. They post comments, like photos, and share content without considering what colleges or future employers might think because college and employment are so far away and they will be different people by then. Unfortunately, people might change, but their tattoo remains. Though I am a math teacher, I have opportunities as we use technology to discuss their digital footprints and encourage responsible digital citizenship.
In conclusion, though every interaction becomes a permanent addition to our digital tattoo, there is a lot that can be done to protect and establish a positive online reputation. The Family Online Safety Institute (2018) provides a great checklist. Begin by searching for yourself online to discover what is out there and requesting unwanted, negative, or false information be removed from sites. Privacy settings should be checked and passwords should be strong and changed often to lessen the chances of getting hacked. As the poster above suggests, always THINK before you post. People will see it and it will be a reflection on your character and beliefs. One final suggestion is to keep it positive. These are all things students should be practicing as soon as they have access to technology, but are equally applicable to people of all ages. We control the intentional aspect of our digital tattoo and should do everything we can to showcase the awesome things we do and believe in to protect our online reputation.
References
Family Online Safety Institute. (2018). Clean up your digital footprint. Retrieved from https://www.fosi.org
/good-digital-parenting/clean-your-digital-footprint/.
Technology Rocks. Seriously. (2014). Before you post think. Retrieved from
http://www.technologyrocksseriously.com/2014/10/before-you-post-think.html#.W5QZmLhry02.
This idea of a digital tattoo is extremely important in our digital era where we enjoy access to so many online resources from shopping to social media to travel planning and more. We have to be aware that we leave a trail, both intentional and unintentional that can be found by others at any point in time. So, it is incumbent upon us to ensure we actively protect our footprint. I love the image posted above this reflection because it is such an important message to understand before posting anything online. We should always ask ourselves: Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? Is it kind? If we all followed these guidelines in any interaction, the internet would be a much better place. However, we can only control our own actions. By choosing to be a responsible and respectful digital citizen, we have less to worry about with our digital tattoo and what people might find out about us.
Unfortunately, the idea of online permanence is difficult for many young people to grasp (and many older ones as well). I work with middle-schoolers who rarely think about the long-term ramifications of their online behaviors. They see something funny, they share it. They see something shocking, they share it. They post comments, like photos, and share content without considering what colleges or future employers might think because college and employment are so far away and they will be different people by then. Unfortunately, people might change, but their tattoo remains. Though I am a math teacher, I have opportunities as we use technology to discuss their digital footprints and encourage responsible digital citizenship.
In conclusion, though every interaction becomes a permanent addition to our digital tattoo, there is a lot that can be done to protect and establish a positive online reputation. The Family Online Safety Institute (2018) provides a great checklist. Begin by searching for yourself online to discover what is out there and requesting unwanted, negative, or false information be removed from sites. Privacy settings should be checked and passwords should be strong and changed often to lessen the chances of getting hacked. As the poster above suggests, always THINK before you post. People will see it and it will be a reflection on your character and beliefs. One final suggestion is to keep it positive. These are all things students should be practicing as soon as they have access to technology, but are equally applicable to people of all ages. We control the intentional aspect of our digital tattoo and should do everything we can to showcase the awesome things we do and believe in to protect our online reputation.
References
Family Online Safety Institute. (2018). Clean up your digital footprint. Retrieved from https://www.fosi.org
/good-digital-parenting/clean-your-digital-footprint/.
Technology Rocks. Seriously. (2014). Before you post think. Retrieved from
http://www.technologyrocksseriously.com/2014/10/before-you-post-think.html#.W5QZmLhry02.