Digital Footprints By Devon Nicholson What is a

Digital Footprints By: Devon Nicholson

What is a digital footprint? • A digital footprint is an online footprint in which people can look at what you have done. Whether is was just adding pictures to Facebook or joining a forums, someone is able to track what you have done. Everyone and anyone has a digital footprint, whether they know it or not.

How might your digital footprint affect your future opportunities? • One bad decision can change your whole future. Let’s say you were a great student just finishing high school. You sent in your letter to your dream university practically certain you’d get in. But, you post a picture of you partying and possibly even drinking or smoking. The university is revising everyone’s social media to find the right candidate and come across the picture. They see what kind of person you really are and deny your access to the school. That one picture you posted of you at the party just ruined your chances of going to your university of your dreams.

How might your digital footprint affect your future opportunities? • Here is an example of a girl that posts a video online and she does not get into the university of her dreams. I do not own this video, after doing research I came across it and decided it would be a good addition to my project.

How might your digital footprint affect your future opportunities? • Your digital footprint might not just ruin your school life but your employment options as well. Let’s say you went to university for a few years and it cost thousands and thousands of dollars. Everything is alright until you comment a mean comment on someone else’s post. You graduate and are looking for employment, you find a job that interests you and you apply. Your employer searches you through the internet and finds your post. They deny your job application and you are left in disbelief. This one post your employer saw ruined your chance of the job.

How might your digital footprint affect your future opportunities? • Here is a short comic strip about someone who made a bad decision by posting a picture of him partying and the result was awful for him.

Strategies to keep your digital footprint appropriate and safe. • So many people wonder how they can keep their digital footprint safe and appropriate and many don’t realize how to do so until after something bad happens. How about you look at these strategies and avoid anything bad happening because of your digital footprint.

Strategies to keep your digital footprint appropriate and safe. • I find the best strategy to use and one of the most reliable is don’t post or do anything online you wouldn’t do in front of your parents or show them. If you think that what you plan on posting or doing is not something your parents would agree with, don’t do it. They most likely know what could cause you troubles in life and this may be one of them.

Strategies to keep your digital footprint appropriate and safe. • Don’t overshare. It’s as simple as that, you don’t need to post something every minute of your life. Nobody needs to know what your eating or where you physically are. Trust me nobody will forget who you are or what you look like if you stop posting selfies. Keeping quiet is the best way to keep safe. I suggest not posting at all, save yourself the trouble. That doesn’t mean you can’t post but keep it appropriate and follow strategy one for the best out come.

Strategies to keep your digital footprint appropriate and safe. • Understand that whatever you do online is recorded somewhere. Many websites such as Twitter and Facebook both save photos and comments. Even if you delete something they still have it somewhere. Google does the same thing, they record what you are searching. Just be aware that whatever you do someone always has it so you should keep it appropriate and safe. You have to accept the fact that it is not private.

What have I learned that may help you? • I personally haven’t had anything happen to me with my digital footprint, but you never know what may happen. I rarely post or comment and I keep it all safe. However one of my best friend posted a lot from when she was young and has just recently been bullied for those pictures. She did remove them from her Facebook, however Facebook has them stored away somewhere. This is why you shouldn’t post to much because in the future it could cause all kinds of problems, bullying, school problems, employment problems and the list goes on.

What have I learned that may help you? • Something I have learned that could make the difference for you is following the rule of “THINK”. By following this rule you will avoid many problems that could be caused by your footprint. Here is the rule of “THINK”. üIs what your posting true? Is it true to who you are? üIs it helpful? Is your post going to help someone? üIs it inspiring? Is it going to inspire someone to go out and do it? üIs it necessary? Are people actually going to need to see it? üIs it kind? By posting are you going to hurt someone’s feelings? If you follow these rules you should be safe.

Digital Footprint • You are responsible for your own digital footprint. Keep it clean and safe. Remember anything you do online is being saved somewhere so be aware what you do. Follow my strategies and tips, they may help you in the future. Good luck.