TRILLION DOLLAR FOOTPRINT What is a digital footprint

TRILLION DOLLAR FOOTPRINT What is a digital footprint, and what does yours convey? Common Sense Education

How many of you have… • Sent a message or posted a comment online? • Created a profile on a social network site? • Used some sort of photo-sharing app? • Googled your own name? Were there any results about you? ********************** • Filling out a form, sending an email to a friend, posting a photo, and pretty much everything you do online – even the simple act of visiting a website or searching Google – leaves a trail. • This trail, called a digital footprint, is made of bits and pieces of information on one’s computer and on other computers and servers around the world, which allow other people to learn about you!

Key Concepts • Digital Dossier • Digital Footprint – all of the information online about a person either posted by that person or others, intentionally or unintentionally • Persistent – lasting a long time, perhaps forever, such as information that one posts online that does not go away because it is passed on and spread • Invisible Audience – anyone who can see information about you or posted by you online • All this information about you can be searched, copied, passed on, see by anyone/everyone!

Trillion Dollar Footprint • Trillion Dollar Footprint is a popular TV show that tours the country looking for teens to compete in a talent show. • I am the Executive Producer of the show, as in the BOSS. • You are Assistant Producers that work for me. • We need to hire a new HOST for the show. • Your task today is to look over the online information of the two final candidates for the position, Linda and Jason. • Together, decide which applicant should be the host of the show based on who WORKS WELL with OTHERS and is HONEST. • As Assistant Producers for the show, you will give a convincing presentation to me (your boss) and the other Assistant Producers about which candidate you chose and the reasons why.

Resources • Trillion Dollar Footprint – Directions – Linda’s Profile – Jason’s Profile – Feedback Form (required)

Presentation • Presentations need to include the following: – Who do you think the show’s host should be, Linda or Jason? Why – Do you think the candidate will be honest? – Do you think the candidate will work well with others? • Each question needs to be justified with direct connections to the candidate’s profile.

Discuss • What did you think about the comment under Linda’s Instapic? – Did it change your opinion of her? – How can you be sure if Vanilli 92’s accusation was actually true? • What was your impression of Jason after you found out that he lied about singing in a band, his relationship status, and where he was born? – Is it possible that Jason forgot to change his relationship status on My. Book? – Is it possible that his friend Maggie was mistaken? – Is it fair to hold Jason’s past against him? • Update – Neither Jason nor Lina was chosen for the host position because I had too many concerns about both candidates regarding their ability to work well with others and to be honest. We are going to keep looking for other candidates!

Reflect • It is important to question and examine the assumptions we make when viewing information online. • Remember, your digital footprint can be somewhat out of your control if others post information about you that is untrue or damaging. • Your digital footprint is within your control since you decide about what to post about yourself or what to send and share with others. • You may think it is unfair that the decision not to select Linda or Jason was based solely on information found online, BUT these types of judgments can be a reality. • People make judgements about you based only what is part of your digital footprint. • Take an active role in shaping your digital footprint.

Google Classroom • Who helped to shape Linda’s and Jason’s digital footprints? • Can you tell what a person is really like offline based on what you find online? • What are some types of information that make up your digital footprint?