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Who Am I in The Digital World: Reshaping Digital Footprint

• Categories: Digital Era Personal Identity Social Media

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Words: 2185 |

11 min read

Published: Aug 31, 2023

Words: 2185 | Pages: 5 | 11 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, discovering who am i in the digital world, concept of identity in the digital world, the challenge of digital identity, recording a day in the digital life, works cited, design considerations.

• Clarke, Roger. 'Dataveillance by Governments: The Technique of Computer Matching.' In Information Systems and Dataveillance, edited by Roger Clarke and Richard Wright, 129-142. Sydney, Australia: Australian Computer Society, 1994.
• Parsell, Mitch. 'Identity, Privacy and Accountability in an Information Age.' PhD diss., The University of Queensland, 2008.
• Tavani, Herman T. Ethics and Technology: Controversies, Questions, and Strategies for Ethical Computing. John Wiley & Sons, 2011.
• Toekke, A. 'An Exploratory Study of the Privacy Concerns of Users of Social Networking Sites: An Individual Perspective.' Communications of the IBIMA 2011 (2011): 1-7.
• Business Wire. ' Internet Becomes Central Part of Modern Family Life.' July 6, 2010. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100706006056/en/Internet-Central-Part-Modern-Family-Life

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What is a Digital Footprint: Everything You Need To Know

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Every time we go online, we leave a digital footprint. This footprint consists of all the data associated with our name that can be traced back to us . It includes everything – from the websites we visit to the searches we make on Google.

Our digital footprints are stored in places such as search engines, social media platforms, and public databases .

This article will discuss what a digital footprint is and how it works . We’ll also talk about the different types of footprints and provide some examples. Finally, we’ll explain the benefits of building positive digital footprints !

Digital Footprint Definition

A digital footprint is a record of our online activity created every time we go online. It includes all our online activities and can be regarded as an impression of our identity that lingers even when we’re offline. 

The information you share online leaves a data trail, which can help others create a particular image of you. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the digital footprints you leave behind and take steps to protect your information.

How Do Digital Footprints Work?

Whenever we go online, we leave a trail of data behind us. Search engines, social media sites, advertisers, and many other companies collect and store this data. Some of it is made public, while other pieces of information are kept private.

Our online activity can be tracked based on information from our digital footprints. This information can also be utilized to create fake profiles for marketing or other purposes.

Types of Digital Footprints

When it comes to digital footprints, there are six different types you should be aware of: 

1. Personally Identifiable Footprints

These are footprints that can be used to identify us specifically. They include our name, address, email address, and phone number. Personally identifiable footprints are the most sensitive type of data and should be protected at all costs.

2. Anonymous Footprints

Anonymous footprints are the ones that can’t be used to identify us. These include the sites we visit and the searches we make. These footprints are not as sensitive as personally identifiable ones, but they should still be protected. It’s advisable to protect your digital footprint by using a reliable VPN or other cybersecurity tools such as antivirus or antimalware apps.

3. Active Digital Footprints

As the name suggests, these are the footprints we create on purpose. They include things like the comments we leave on social media, the posts we share, and the searches we make. Active footprints are the easiest to track because they are right in front of us.

4. Passive Digital Footprints

Unlike the active ones, passive digital footprints are created without our knowledge or consent. These may include the websites we visit, the videos we watch, and the ads we see. Because we are not always aware of our passive digital trace, it’s more difficult to create and maintain a positive digital footprint. 

5. User Input Footprints

These are footprints created when we input information into a website or application. They include our username, password, and credit card number. User input footprints should always be protected because they can be utilized to steal our identity.

6. Sensor Data Footprints

These are footprints created by the devices we use. They include things like our location, age, and gender. Sensor data footprints can be used to track our behavior and personal preferences.

Digital Footprint Examples

Now that we know what a digital footprint is, let’s take a look at some examples. Here are a few of the most common categories of digital footprints:

• Social media data : Social media data is one of the most common digital footprints. It’s the content you post on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
• Web browsing data : Your web browsing history can also be used to track your online activities. This includes your search queries, the websites you visit, and the ads you click on.
• Online shopping data : If you’ve ever made purchases online, your shopping history is stored in a database. It lists the items you’ve bought, the websites you’ve visited, and the credit card information you’ve entered.
• Financial data : Your financial data can also be used to track your activities. This contains the bank accounts you’ve used, the credit card transactions you’ve made, and the amount of money you’ve deposited into your account.

Benefits of Digital Footprints

While digital footprints have negative aspects, there are also some positives. The benefits of having a positive digital footprint are as follows:

• Increased trust : When you have a stellar online reputation, it can increase the trust people have in you. This can be beneficial in personal and professional relationships alike.
• Increased opportunities : A good online reputation can open up many possibilities you would not have otherwise. It can help you land jobs, scholarships, and other opportunities.
• Improved search results : A positive footprint can improve the search results people get when they are looking for information about you. Specifically, these hits can portray you in a favorable light as someone who hasn’t tarnished their online presence.

Negative Aspects of Digital Footprints

Now that we know the advantages of digital footprints, let’s also take a look at their negative aspects. Here are the things you need to be aware of:

• Privacy concerns : One of the biggest issues with digital footprints is privacy. Many people are worried that their personal information will be accessed and used without their consent.
• Reputational damage : A negative footprint can compromise your reputation, which can be adverse in the professional world. For example, if you have a bad reputation online, it could prevent you from being accepted into schools and colleges.
• Employment concerns : Some employers are concerned about digital footprints and may do a background check on potential employees. If you have a negative footprint, it could prevent you from getting your desired job.

How To Protect Your Digital Footprint

Here are a few of the most important things you can do to protect your digital footprint:

• Use a VPN (virtual private network): this is a tool that can help protect your online privacy by hiding your IP address. It encrypts your data and keeps it secure. By using a VPN, you can hide your personally identifiable footprints from prying eyes .
• Be careful with social media : Social media is a great way to connect with friends and family, but you can end up sharing too much information in the process. Be careful about what you post on social media, and adjust your privacy settings accordingly.
• Use strong passwords : A strong password is one of the best ways to protect your online identity. Make sure to use a unique password for each of your accounts and never share them with anyone.
• Cybersecurity : Lastly, you should always adhere to good cybersecurity practices. This includes using antivirus software, updating your software regularly, and being careful about the websites you visit.

Tips on How To Erase Your Digital Footprint

Erasing your digital footprints isn’t always easy, but it is possible. Here are a few actions you can take to start removing your digital footprints:

• Deactivate your social media accounts : The easiest way to erase your digital footprints is to deactivate all your social media accounts. This will remove a large portion of the information associated with you from the internet.
• Remove your personal information : Another way to delete your digital footprint is to clear all your personal information from the internet. This includes removing your name, address, and other personal details from the web. You can do this by  contacting the website or organization that has your information and asking them to remove it. Services like Ghostery or PrivacyFix are also a good option as they scan for and delete your personal information from the internet.
• Unsubscribe from mailing lists : If you don’t want your personal information to be shared, you can unsubscribe from mailing and newsletter lists. Organizations will stop sharing your information with others as a result.
• Delete cookies : Cookies are small files that are stored on your computer. They track your online activities and collect information about you. Deleting the cookies can help you erase some of your digital footprints.
• S ubmit a Google Listing removal request : If you have a negative digital footprint and wish to remove your name and contact information from the search results, you can do so via a Google Listing removal request.

Final Thoughts

Digital footprints are a part of our everyday life. They can be helpful in several ways but can also be harmful if not handled properly. By being aware of the dangers and taking the necessary precautions, you can protect yourself from the negative aspects of digital footprints . Just remember to be careful about what you share online and with whom you share it. 

Further reading

The Onion Theory of Data Security Layers

What Is the Dark Web? Myths and Facts About the Hidden Internet

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What is a Digital Footprint? 5 Examples You Need to Know

By Tibor Moes / Updated: June 2023

Digital Footprint

How often have you wondered if what you do online can be quantified, used to profile you, and affect your well-being or safety? Everyone knows that online activities are tracked. But neither the extent of this practice nor its ramifications are well understood.

Learning the consequences of operating in the digital space is of the utmost importance, given how much of everyone’s lives revolve around digital communication, services, remote workplaces, and so on.

With that in mind, what is a digital footprint and how does it connect to your online activities?

• A digital footprint is the unique trail of data that individuals leave online when engaging in digital activities, encompassing all forms of online interaction from social media use, website browsing, to online transactions.
• This footprint can be divided into two categories: passive, where data is collected without user’s direct knowledge, often through cookies and server logs; and active, where information is deliberately shared online such as via social media posts or email.
• Digital footprints are crucial in today’s digital era as they can significantly impact one’s online privacy and security, and can also influence how online algorithms tailor content for individuals. They can be managed and protected through careful online behavior, regular privacy check-ups, and using appropriate security measures.

Don’t become a victim of cybercrime. Protect your devices with the best antivirus software and your privacy with the best VPN service .

What is a Digital Footprint?

The concept of a digital footprint goes by many names. Some call it an electronic footprint, digital shadow, or digital breadcrumbs. But whatever fancy term you come across, all refer to the same thing. That’s the trail of information you leave behind when performing regular activities on a network or on the internet.

If the digital world was a giant, snowy landscape, every action you make online would leave an imprint behind. As you might suspect, this is one of the many things that allow others to track you online.

But how noticeable is a digital footprint? It depends on your online habits, internet usage rate, activities, and other factors.

Types of Digital Footprints You Need to Know

To better understand the ramifications of adding to your digital footprint, it’s vital to familiarize yourself with the two types of digital footprints.

Active Digital Footprint

Active digital footprints are created and sustained by any action in which you willingly share information about yourself or your location. Examples of this would be social media platforms, comment sections, websites that require registration, completing an online form or questionnaire, subscribing to newsletters, and allowing the installation of browser cookies.

These examples refer to information and data shared deliberately.

Passive Digital Footprint

A passive digital footprint is the exact opposite of an active footprint. This type of footprint is created by data and information collected about you without your express knowledge. Sometimes, even without consent.

Passive digital footprint examples include website visits, IP addresses, browsing patterns, and even shares of your social media content.

In most cases, this type of digital footprint is generated using hidden processes and without the user’s knowledge. This makes passive digital footprints the most dangerous to leave behind because you can’t be certain what information third parties can collect about you and your online activities.

Common Digital Footprint Examples

Not everyone understands what they should or shouldn’t do to avoid leaving a noticeable digital footprint behind. Some examples of leaving breadcrumbs include social media uploads and posts.

Other actions that expand your digital footprint include leaving reviews, reading articles, listening to music, or watching videos. Even going on a shopping spree in your favorite online store leaves a data trail that makes your digital footprint bigger and easier to track.

Did you install cookies recently? Cookies track your activity and add to your footprint. What’s even worse is, you can contribute to your digital footprint unknowingly and unwillingly. With that said, there are certain digital footprint examples you must know based on the type of activity or website you might visit.

Social Media

Social media digital footprints are created when you use a device to log in to your favorite social media platforms. Connecting with new friends, making fresh contacts, exchanging photos and information, and other activities can leave a noticeable digital footprint.

Online banking, despite its convenience, is another way to contribute to your digital footprint. Opening a new account, getting a credit card, investing in the stock market, and using your credentials to make payments involve the willful sharing of information and create active digital footprints.

Online shopping is one of the easiest ways to leave behind more than a few digital breadcrumbs. Everything from logging into shopping apps to newsletter subscriptions to coupon use to clicking ads will contribute to your digital footprint.

Tracking Apps

Fitness apps and trackers probably seem appealing if you want to get in shape but lack guidance and time. Like any other apps with tracking features, fitness trackers can make your digital footprint even more visible by collecting personal or confidential information and activity habits.

The same problem can be seen in other health-related apps, blogs, and devices.

News Websites

Online news publications collect a lot of information like article views, topic preferences, where you post or share content, etc. This user behavior data is added to your digital footprint, whether you like it or not.

How Are Digital Footprints Used?

By now, you’re probably already aware of the many tracking habits of corporations, advertisers, governments, and your friendly neighborhood internet service providers. Information is king in the digital age, and consumer data is a valuable resource.

But how can your digital footprint be used, and why is it important to understand this concept?

For the most part, once data becomes public online, others can manipulate it in many ways. Imagine posting something on Facebook or Twitter and thousands of people re-sharing it, maybe taking your thoughts out of context.

Your digital footprint can be used as a business card, resume, or a means of establishing your reputation. These days, business partners and employers care about digital footprints as much as real-world perception.

Every breadcrumb you leave behind could either make you look good or bad. But given your limited control over this data and lack of context, digital footprints can do more harm than good.

The more obvious use is in advertising. Your likes, dislikes, shopping patterns, necessities, and other preferences can be extrapolated from your digital footprint. That’s why it’s so common these days to get spammed with advertisements showing exactly the products or services you need.

At least those can show you something you want. But not all advertisements are useful, non-invasive, or trustworthy. This brings us to the next point: cybersecurity risks.

A person’s digital footprint can be used to learn more about them and gain their trust. This can make people vulnerable to phishing and other types of cyberattacks.

There’s also the issue of privacy. Leaving a digital footprint pretty much means you don’t have any privacy, at least not online. Yet seeing how often the physical and digital environments become intertwined, your digital footprint can lead to a breach of your real-world privacy.

How to Protect Your Digital Footprint

Whether you want to keep your preferences and habits to yourself, you worry about identity theft, want to minimize ad placements, or just don’t like the idea of leaving a digital trail, digital footprint protection is essential.

Fortunately, you can take actions to minimize your online presence, maintain anonymity in various scenarios, and limit the amount of identifiable information left behind.

Separate Personal, Business, and Other Email Accounts

One of the great things about most email services is that they’re free to use. Arguably better is the ability to make as many disposable email accounts as you want. Switching between Google accounts is very easy, regardless of your browser.

Multiple email accounts with dedicated purposes will allow you to be more selective with the information you offer to specific online platforms and web services.

In addition, if you don’t mix business with personal activities, whatever information you leave behind isn’t enough to generate an accurate profile.

Tighten Privacy Settings

Are all of your social media profiles still set to public? Even influencers and celebrities have started restricting access to their so-called public pages. It’s a good idea to do the same.

This can prevent oversharing, and especially sharing information with untrusted individuals and companies. Limiting access to your posts and information is a lot more effective than you think.

Don’t Agree to Everything

There’s hardly a website or application so crucial that you can’t refuse their request to collect and sell your information. Here’s something you may not know. While you might have to agree to sharing information or installing specific cookies, you don’t have to agree to let companies sell the collected data to advertisers or even share it with their partners. Audit your current selections and start opting out of these agreements.

Stay Off Unsecured or Public Wi-Fi Networks

Unsecured networks are teeming with nosy individuals and businesses who want to learn more about you. The lack of security makes data breaches easier to execute and can render your most careful browsing practices useless.

Only Visit Secure Websites

Your passive digital footprint is often created with the help of cookies you didn’t want, security breaches, and malicious software.

These situations and practices are less common on trusted and secure websites, such as those that start with “https” rather than “http.” Revise your browsing habits and remove unsafe websites from your go-to list.

You can’t exercise complete control over the digital breadcrumbs you leave behind. For example, your ISP will almost always cause you to leave an active digital trail and passive digital footprint.

The active component stems from agreeing to share information with your provider when signing the contract. However, the passive component comes from the various means ISPs use to track your online activities, many of which you don’t even have to agree to.

Bypassing ISP monitoring and eliminating those digital footprints isn’t easily accomplished just by using new browsing habits, multiple email addresses, and gaining a newfound respect for cybersecurity.

For this, you’ll need a VPN. Routing your connection through a virtual private network will hide your geolocation, IP address, and other identifying information contained in data packets. Cookies and other tracking methods can be useless against you.

Whenever you try to access a website, your request will be sent from a proxy server or bounced around multiple servers to mask your identity. This lets you browse anonymously and minimize your digital footprint.

Keep in mind that even when using a VPN, you can still create an active digital footprint by logging into websites using your credentials, sharing posts, commenting, subscribing to services, etc. A VPN only helps you reduce a passive digital footprint.

Minimize Your Passive Digital Footprint and Sharing Habits

Whether it’s changing your behavior on social media sites, being more mindful of sharing private data, using different social media credentials, or taking the security of your online activity more seriously, taking steps to minimize your digital tracing data is vital for your safety, privacy, and peace of mind.

Everything you post online can be used to collect information and used against you. Better browsing habits and a VPN can help minimize or even hide your online presence, even from the most prying eyes.

How to stay safe online:

• Practice Strong Password Hygiene : Use a unique and complex password for each account. A password manager can help generate and store them. In addition, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever available.
• Invest in Your Safety : Buying the best antivirus for Windows 11 is key for your online security. A high-quality antivirus like Norton , McAfee , or Bitdefender will safeguard your PC from various online threats, including malware, ransomware, and spyware.
• Be Wary of Phishing Attempts : Be cautious when receiving suspicious communications that ask for personal information. Legitimate businesses will never ask for sensitive details via email or text. Before clicking on any links, ensure the sender's authenticity.
• Stay Informed. We cover a wide range of cybersecurity topics on our blog. And there are several credible sources offering threat reports and recommendations, such as NIST , CISA , FBI , ENISA , Symantec , Verizon , Cisco , Crowdstrike , and many more.

Happy surfing!

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most frequently asked questions.

What is a positive digital footprint?

A positive digital footprint would be information and data that can increase your reputation in front of friends, family, partners, and employers by showcasing virtues and attributes you don’t actively brag about yourself.

How many types of digital footprints are there?

There are only two main categories. Digital footprints are split between active and passive footprints based on the type of data collection used to generate the digital trail.

Is a digital footprint dangerous?

Informative digital footprints are dangerous because identifiable information can be used in phishing attacks, hacks, identity theft, invasive advertising placement, and other practices that infringe on your privacy.

Author: Tibor Moes

Founder & Chief Editor at SoftwareLab

Tibor has tested 39 antivirus programs and 30 VPN services , and holds a Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate from Stanford University.

He uses Norton to protect his devices, CyberGhost for his privacy, and Dashlane for his passwords.

You can find him on LinkedIn or contact him here .

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Digital Footprint

Grade 8 | Informative | Source-Based Source Lexile® : 920L-1190L | Learning Standards

There has been much discussion lately about the effects of a digital footprint. It is important for people to have a positive digital footprint for many reasons. In the sources that follow, you will research what a positive digital footprint is as well as how to create one. Your class is writing articles for the school newspaper on positive uses of technology.

Write an informative essay answering the following questions:

• What is a positive digital footprint, and why is having one important?
• What are the different ways in which students can create positive digital footprints?

Support the statements you make in your essay with evidence from the sources you read and viewed.

"The Power of a Positive Digital Footprint for Students"

April 11, 2011 by jalger, Edjudo.com

I was reading in the newspaper today about companies charging up to $50,000 offering online reputation management services. These companies work with small businesses or even individuals and suppress negative comments, bad photos or negative feedback. They do this by flooding search engines with articles, photos, comments and links that paint a more positive image about the business or person.

This got me thinking, maybe as teachers we need to show students how to create their own positive digital footprint and encourage them to do so. Until now my digital citizenship and cyber safety talks have focused on the dangers of a negative digital footprint. I have been promoting the “think before you post” message.

What are employers looking for online?

Employers are increasingly making use of Internet search engines to locate and evaluate online information about potential employees. Many recruitment agencies share lists of ten negative things which employers don’t want to see online. But what about positive things employers look for online?

This may include:

• an indication of the applicant’s personality
• online profile supports professional qualifications and conduct
• good communication skills
• groups which the applicant is participating in
• do other people provide good references and comments about them
• have they received any awards and accolades

A person’s online footprint is becoming an increasingly important part of their online brand. It makes sense that people should be promoting their brand (name) in a positive light. If someone is working hard, being creative, helping others or receiving awards, then surely promoting these skills and achievements online is a good thing. Students need to learn that using their real name online is not always a bad thing, it is part of creating a positive digital footprint that will be seen by others.

Opportunities to publish online with your name attached

Social Media

Social media like Facebook and Twitter can be used in a proactive way to develop a positive online presence. These tools allow anyone to collaborate and contribute in meaningful ways. Encouraging students to create or join groups which they are passionate about, highlights their interests and also allows them to network with like-minded people.

Blogging is an excellent way to showcase your interests and skills online. Attaching your name to engaging blog posts shows you’re passionate about a topic and can display your communicative skills. Students can blog once a week or even once every few months. Many websites like Blogger, Tumblr and WordPress allow anyone to set up a free blog. Intelligent and constructive comments on other people’s blogs with your name attached can also be appreciated by potential employers.

Web 2.0 applications

There is a vast range of web 2.0 applications like Youtube, Flickr, [and] Podomatic that allow anyone to share videos, images, and audio. Used in a smart way, these applications can be an excellent way to showcase students’ creativity and promote themselves and their work. Teachers can encourage students to put school work they are proud of online to showcase their skills.

Online Competitions

Encouraging students to enter online writing, photography, film, and digital media competitions is also a great way to help them build a positive online profile. Some competitions allow worldwide applicants and a quick Google search will usually provide competitions in different countries and states. Companies like Adobe and Microsoft often run design competitions for students and having their work and name published online is a great way to display talent and hard work. Teachers can even incorporate units of work at school to encourage students to enter these competitions.

Digital Resumes

It’s important to get students thinking about and practicing digital resumes as well as the traditional paper resume. Especially if a student wants to get a job in the growing field of digital media or design, then an online resume that showcases their skills and abilities to use different tools could be what gets them noticed. LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network site and is also worth exploring.

Shaping your positive digital footprint

For a great example of a person who has shaped their positive digital footprint, do a search for George Couros. He is a school Principal in Alberta, Canada who has his own blog, Youtube channel, social media accounts and an online digital resume. All of these are done in a social, yet professional context.

1. An Update: December 2014

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Angela

Hi! Welcome to Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference, a blog project that I started when I was in elementary school. It’s been a long time since I posted here. I’ll be eighteen soon, and right now, I’m deciding which college I’ll be going to next year. I’m interested in design and social entrepreneurship. I also like working with kids a lot. Although I’ve been quiet here, I’ve continued to do service work ever since I started this project. I’ve also helped other kids do the same by visiting classrooms and helping them start their own projects. This week, I began running workshops for kids who want to start their own Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference sorts of blogs, and I am starting a new challenge too for 2014. If you want to know more, you can visit my new site: 25xTwenty Five Days to Make a Difference. I hope to see you there!

2. Thank You for Spreading the Word!

Posted on April 1, 2009 by Angela

I want to thank everyone for participating in my blog carnival! I began reading all of your posts last night. I’m going to finish and leave comments for everyone tonight! I hope that everyone will visit the comments section of my post from yesterday. You can see who participated and follow the links back to their blogs too. This morning, I drew the name of the winner of the Flip Video Camera! I did this by drawing names of bloggers out of a bowl to keep it fair. My mom recorded it so everyone could see. I will need the winner to email your address to [email protected]! Your camera is on its way!

3. Bar The R-Word

Posted on February 14, 2009 by Angela

Last week, I was in Idaho at the Special Olympics Youth Activation Summit. Well, when I was there, we talked a lot about how people use the word “retard” in really insensitive ways. We talked about how it effects [sic] other people, how much it hurts, and most important, how to STOP this from happening.

The r-word hurts. Even though many people are trying to keep others from saying it, it’s a big part of many kids’ vocabulary. I remember when we did our first session on trying to stop it from spreading, a man in our group said that it’s set in stone in our minds, and that some people say it without even trying to. I think that this is true, but horrible. I don’t think that it has to be, it just is.

We also talked about how the r-word is supposed to be for doctors to use. That’s how it was developed. It’s not acceptable that we turned something for medical uses into something that is an insult.

The Special Olympics’ site is raising awareness by asking others to make videos, write songs, or speak to others about the r-word. These are a couple videos I liked. In the next few weeks, I’m going to be doing some work to “curb the word” as my friend Noah’s mom says. I’ll let you know what I’m up to as I plan. In the meantime, tell me what you think kids can do to prevent others from using this word in such a negative way.

The New R-word is Respect!!

4. Thank You to Those Who Make a Difference!

Posted on January 20, 2009 by Angela

Over the last few weeks, a lot of people have been doing things to make a difference for an organization that I care about a lot. It’s called Compass House. During my December challenge, Kate Ellis and Theresa Gray each pledged to make a difference for them, and I was really grateful when they told me they were making some great donations. Mrs. VanEtten’s seventh graders also did a HUGE clothing drive for them too, which was really impressive AND inspiring.

I know I haven’t been blogging a lot lately. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to do with my blog and with my service work. I’m learning more about the different ways in which people use blogs, and I have some ideas about what I want to do here for the next year. I like the idea of trying to use my blog as a way to share ideas for how people could do small things to make a difference for ANY cause.

Next month, I will be going to Idaho to take part in the Special Olympics World Games. There are so many great things that kids and grown ups can do to make a difference for this organization. I plan to use this month to blog about what I am learning about the Special Olympics. I also want to share some ideas that anyone can use if they want to make a difference for a cause they care about.

http://twentyfivedays.wordpress.com

"Creating Your Digital Footprint with Social Media" (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdWmhZsJQHo

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Your Digital Footprint: What Is It and How Can You Manage It?

By Kristina Ericksen on 05/16/2018

Every email, post, photo and click you make online leaves a trail. Even by reading this article, you’re adding to your ever-growing string of breadcrumbs online. It’s permanent, it follows you for life and it’s not going anywhere—it’s your digital footprint.

You may be wondering, “ What is a digital footprint? And why should I care about it? ”

Whether or not your information is shared intentionally, it’s being gathered by advertisers, employers and companies from which you shop. This information is called your digital footprint—and it’s becoming more important than ever in today’s digital economy. While there’s no official definition of the term “ digital economy ,” it can be summed up as as the entire ecosystem built from our online connectivity. In this newfound era, your digital footprint can no longer be ignored.

To help you understand what that means for you, we spoke with a handful of online experts to learn more about digital footprints. Learn from their expertise and see what you need to know about managing your online presence.

What is a digital footprint?

First, the answer to your question: What is a digital footprint?

“Your digital footprint is anything that is about you or put out by you online,” says media and personal branding consultant Brian Harrington.

That includes social media, your own website, articles about you or written by you. It spans all time and doesn’t just include what’s found at the top of the page—it can be information that is both easy and hard to find, he explains.

Take note that your digital footprint isn’t just things you actively put online like photos or Facebook status updates—it’s your information that is being scraped from more passive online activities as well.

“Your digital footprint is data that’s created through your activities and communication online. This can include more passive activities, such as if a website collects your IP address, as well as more active digital activities, such as sharing images on social media,” says Natalie Athanasiadis, owner of Ormi Media .

“You should keep in mind that anything you place online, whether text or images, has the potential to be available online forever.”

Forever is a long time, which means it’s all the more important to keep on top your digital footprint.

How is your digital footprint used?

Your digital footprint is often used to obtain personal info about you, such as demographics, religion, political affiliations or interests. Information could be gathered using cookies , which are small files websites store on your computer after your first visit to track user activity.

Cookies also allow you to hold items in a shopping cart, store preferences or login information and make personalized suggestions based on your location or interests. Your digital footprint is used by advertisers to target you with customized ads . For example, if you look at a pair of shoes online, you may later see ads for those shoes or similar items.

Your digital footprint is also used by employers—both current and prospective. It is especially important to care for your digital footprint if you’re job hunting, as Googling is now a central part of the hiring process.

“An online background check by recruiters and employers is a common practice these days,” says Mehmood Hanif, founder of The Signature Post . “In worst-case scenarios, individuals could lose their job offer if employers come across something inappropriate.”

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for you to be proactive in managing your digital footprint. Take a look at some of the following tips.

How can you manage your digital footprint?

So how can you manage your digital footprint? Here are a few places to start:

• Google yourself : Take inventory of what’s out there. Search for your name every few months, so you’re cognizant of the information others have access to.
• Set up Google alerts : Hanif recommends setting up a Google alert for your name. The tool will then send you occasional alerts of every post that has your name on it.
• Protect your personal data : Don’t disclose your personal address, phone number, passwords or bank card numbers. Consider using a nickname instead of your real name.
• Keep login info under lock and key: Never share any of your usernames or passwords with anyone.
• Think before you post: Never put a temporary emotion on the permanent internet. Anger is temporary; online lasts forever. Pause before you post: Think twice, post once, advises Sue Scheff, online defamation survivor and author of Shame Nation .
• Nix the pics: Any photo you post could be dug up some day. Limit your sharing of questionable images. Fifteen minutes of humor is never worth a lifetime of potential humiliation, adds Scheff.

Benefits of a digital footprint

When done wrong, your digital footprint can be detrimental, but it’s not all doom and gloom. When they’re done right, a digital footprint can provide you with a great first impression. You’re now aware that employers are following your trail, so take advantage of it. There are many ways you can leverage your digital skills to land a job.

“A strong online presence, or digital footprint, can be a career asset in today's competitive job market. Many employers are performing online searches—in addition to reviewing resumes and cover letters—in an attempt to learn about prospective hires, including their interests, industry involvement and, more important, their ability to market themselves effectively,” says Diane Domeyer, career expert and executive director of The Creative Group .

“If hiring managers are impressed by the content they find, like thought-provoking commentary or links to industry articles, they may be more apt to reach out to individuals for an interview. On the other hand, a lack of activity can be a turn-off.”

With the digital economy now driving much of the workforce, reinforcing your technical prowess with a strong digital presence can be helpful to job seekers.

“Your digital footprint is now a reality of life. If you want to do anything big in the world, you're going to have to understand how to craft your footprint and use it,” says Harrington. He suggests individuals control the narrative through personal branding—have a theme or style woven throughout your social media and website. This will make it easier for readers to tell what content is verifiably from you and what could have been put out by someone else about you.

Leave a strong footprint

Now that you know what a digital footprint is, take the proper steps to cultivate it. The digital world isn’t going anywhere anytime soon—so think of it as a lifelong development. Take advantage of the platform to present yourself in a good light and show off your best qualities. After all, you never know who will be looking in our newfound digital economy.

Be sure to check out our infographic, “ Is Your Online Brand Helping or Hurting Your Career? ” to learn more about how your digital presence can create a lasting impression online.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in August 2014. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2018.

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Kristina is a Digital Writer at Collegis Education where she creates informative content on behalf of Rasmussen University. She is passionate about the power of education and enjoys connecting students to bright futures

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How your digital footprint can impact your career

Make a positive first impression to your future employer by leaving a well-curated digital trail behind you.

As face-to-face interactions increasingly take a back seat, the impacts of the spoken word are replaced by digital traces of our online activities where they are not forgotten.

With remote work increasingly becoming the norm since the pandemic, managing your digital reputation is especially critical to your career, as your digital persona represents you in the online world, which allows employers to better understand you.

If you made a purchase in the past week, sent an email, messaged a friend, posted a comment on social media or browsed a website, be aware that these actions have left an imprint that can either support or place at risk your online reputation and privacy .

“Previously, you would make your first impression with a handshake but in this digital age, and with remote working the norm, first impressions are made by whatever it is that a search engine chooses to serve up,” explains Andrew Wessels, Founder and CEO of The Marque , a digital auditing company.

While some actions like posting an image are driven with intent, others – such as setting up an account with your personal details or searching on a website that collects data – happen in the background, so can easily be forgotten or dismissed as unconscious actions.

“These days it is a red flag if you have no online presence, so it is about controlling your digital footprint – not hiding it.”

Given that zero online presence – commonly referred to as an online ghost – is similarly frowned upon by employers, the only real solution is to proactively manage your footprint by consciously presenting an image you’d be happy for current or prospective employers, colleagues or clients to see.

“These days it is a red flag if you have no online presence, so it is about controlling your digital footprint – not hiding it,” Wessels asserts.

According to a survey by CareerBuilder , around 54 per cent of employers discovered social media content that prevented them from hiring candidates. The top reasons usually range from inappropriate material, posting content involving alcohol and drug consumption, to discriminatory comments, lying about qualifications and poor communication skills.

While employers may be looking for reasons not to hire candidates, they are also seeking to know whether the individual for consideration has a professional online presence and any evidence that supports their qualifications as well as what others are posting about them.

This hints at the importance of respecting friends and family when tagging, posting and exposing information about them in the public domain.

“People are often exposed without realising it – for example, websites giving out personal information or family members making unwise comments on social media, which can have a knock-on effect for your career,” Wessels says.

How to manage your digital footprint

Every person at every age and career level, including students, should be taking charge of their digital footprint by knowing what it is, thinking about their identity and taking steps to build a positive digital reputation through their online behaviours.

“Contribute to your positive, professional digital footprint by posting only those things that contribute to the image of you that you want potential investors, banks or future employers to see,” Wessels affirms.

Become familiar with your online presence

To get a sense of your online persona first, google yourself. However, for a deeper examination into any risky content that is unlikely to appear in a Google search, it’s best to undertake a full digital audit.

According to Wessels, “Discoveries may include false information, negative media coverage, poor imagery, fake social media accounts and inappropriate associations.”

Clean up your image

If you are able to, remove any content that you deem inappropriate or a risk to your reputation. This could include explicit language, unprofessional behaviour or references to illegal substances.

Delete outdated accounts and nurture existing ones

It is likely your identity has changed over time and that you have created accounts in the past that no longer reflect your personality or which haven’t been updated. Your list may include newsletter subscriptions, social media profiles and other accounts with online businesses. If you no longer require these, it is best to remove them to avoid experiencing a data breach.

Also consider whether your Twitter feed and LinkedIn profile are working in your favour to support your personal brand, and that your personal website(s) are search engine optimised.

Maintain digital privacy

By using unique passwords for each of your accounts, being aware of email scams and managing cookies on the websites you visit, you can better navigate the internet with these best practices.

Read Next: How to use your own personal branding to maximise business opportunities

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What Is a Digital Footprint and Why Is It Important?

What’s a digital footprint? Everything you do online leaves behind a trail. Each email you send, website you visit, and transaction you complete is part of a growing database of information linked to your identity. This can impact your life and livelihood in various ways, so it’s important to learn how to manage and protect your digital footprint.

What is a digital footprint?

A digital footprint is the data trail created by your online activities and the traces you intentionally or unintentionally leave behind. Over time, these digital footprints form a detailed impression of your identity that is more accessible and permanent than many people realize. Understanding the scope and impact of this long-lasting record helps you make informed decisions about your online behavior and security practices.

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Types of digital footprints

How does a digital footprint work? Whether intentionally or unintentionally, you’re adding to your digital footprint every time you use the internet. Some digital footprints are left behind through anonymous site visits and searches, while others are directly traceable to your name, address, email address, and other personal information. The digital footprint definition can be broken into two general categories:

• Active digital footprints: A digital footprint is considered active when you’re aware of the information being shared or collected. This type of footprint is created by activities such as social media posts, filling out forms, or publishing an article. When you log in to an account or website under a registered username, any feedback you share becomes part of your active digital footprint.
• Passive digital footprints: Unlike active footprints, passive digital footprints are left behind without your awareness or participation. Much of this information is gathered based on the associated Internet Protocol (IP) address . Your internet browser and any websites you visit continually collect background data based on your activity.

Why are digital footprints important?

Digital footprints are living records that follow us throughout our lives, so it’s important to be aware of their contents and what others see. Things like social media posts , online comments, and uploaded images and files paint a picture that shapes our reputations. Anything we post on social media can also be misjudged or misunderstood, no matter how innocent it seems.

Colleges and employers are among the institutions that review digital footprints regularly as part of their decision-making processes. At the same time, your digital footprint can become a trail of information for hackers to customize phishing attacks or commit identity theft. Leaving too much of a digital footprint makes you more vulnerable to cybercriminals.

Digital footprint examples

The digital footprint meaning is best described through some common examples. These everyday activities create active and passive footprints that we can examine to understand their importance:

• Web browsing: Each time you connect to the internet, the websites you visit log the IP address associated with your connection, while search engines like Google or Yahoo store your history. Web browsing in private or Incognito mode offers a bit more privacy since your browsing history and cookies are deleted after each session, although your internet service provider (ISP) will still record the sites you visited. Deleting your browsing history only removes information from your local browser and device. Records of the sites you visit are still maintained by the website owners.
• Cookies: What does it mean when you accept cookies? Despite the innocent name, this digital footprint example is actually a small text file stored on your browser by the site you visited. Cookies add convenience by remembering login information and shopping preferences, but they also grant companies permission to use your information as they see fit. Although they are usually harmless, you should always decline cookies from suspicious or unsecured websites.
• Online shopping: Your online shopping history, including any items you have purchased or clicked on, is stored by the vendor. This aspect of your digital footprint is useful for marketers creating targeted ads that cater to your history and preferences. In some cases, the vendor will also store your credit card number and other personal information, which can leave you vulnerable if they’re subject to a data breach.
• Mobile banking: The shift to digital, online methods for nearly all banking transactions makes financial history another important element of your digital footprint. Payment and account information on the cloud produces a centralized record of financial activity. Many financial institutions also track location information along with transaction history. This helps them detect and prevent fraudulent transactions while creating a more thorough digital footprint.
• Downloads: Each time you download a file, the file type, origin, and metadata associated with the file contribute to a profile that becomes more detailed with each subsequent download. Your browsing history includes past downloads that define your interests and activities. The insight that can be gained from this portion of your digital footprint makes it a popular target for cybercriminals. In the event of a data breach.
• Social media: Your social media activity establishes much of your active digital footprint. What sets social media apart from other sources is the depth and breadth of information shared. This includes photos, comments, commentary on sensitive topics, and the names of friends, relatives, and colleagues. These details can become a gold mine for hackers attempting to guess user credentials or steal identities.
• Sending emails: The emails we send and receive are a digital footprint example that combines high volume with detailed information on habits, history, location, and finances. They also reveal personal and professional contacts and relationships. Email addresses are central to digital footprint security since they double as usernames for many account types and provide a convenient access point for marketers, scammers, and hackers attempting to establish contact.

How is your digital footprint used?

If you’ve ever searched for a familiar name and found volumes of information (or nothing), you have explored digital footprint use. Whether a search is based on innocent curiosity, professional interest, or malicious intent, the availability and content of a digital footprint should not be left to chance. Common uses for digital footprints include:

• Employment screening: 92% of recruiters say they use internet searches to gather information on candidates. They might look for positive signs like involvement in professional networks and volunteer organizations, as well as inappropriate or inflammatory information that could be lurking in social media accounts. This underscores the importance of digital footprint maintenance to weed out anything that might be viewed as a negative.  
• Targeted advertising: The practice of targeted advertising utilizes personalized communication tailored to customer demographics, behaviors, and preferences. Businesses and advertisers assemble customer profiles based on their digital footprints. Cookies, location data, and other data sources are fed into algorithms to determine what ads or campaigns are most likely to be successful.
• Hacking: Common hacking tactics, such as brute-force attacks and credential stuffing, rely on weak, reused, or unsecurely shared passwords to gain unauthorized account access. Many weak passwords include information like names, addresses, and other personal information that can be found on social media and other readily available digital footprint sources.
• Phishing: The social engineering tactic known as phishing uses personalized emails to trick recipients into providing information or clicking on malicious links. The believability of phishing emails can be enhanced using details from the recipient’s digital footprint, including contact names and interests shared in social media profiles. 
• Identity theft: A direct connection between digital footprints and identity theft occurs when cybercriminals gain access to personal information through hacking or phishing tactics and use this information to impersonate someone else or open a financial account in their name.
• Legal issues: As detailed records of online activity, digital footprints formed by emails, geolocation data, and social media posts are converted into evidence (or alibis) related to whereabouts, criminal intent, fraud, and other activities during criminal investigations and trials. Concerns over privacy, data authenticity, and chain of custody issues have led to more discussions and pushback over what digital evidence should be admissible in criminal proceedings.
• Personal searches: Digital footprints are an important source of information for anyone with concerns or questions about their children’s activities, new friends, or potential love interests. Online dating apps have soared in popularity as more people utilize these convenient platforms to meet new partners. These apps contribute to their members’ digital footprints while highlighting the need for users to complete their own digital footprint investigations to weed out dating scams carried out by cybercriminals and imposters.

How to minimize your digital footprint

Is there a way to erase your digital footprint entirely? Data retention policies for ISPs, browsers, and retailers make it nearly impossible to delete your digital footprint, but there are some proactive steps you can take to scale it back:

• Delete cookies regularly to prevent online businesses from tracking your activities.
• Deactivate old social media accounts to remove readily available personal information.
• Delete any other accounts, memberships, or services that you’re no longer using.
• Don’t provide your name or email address when you complete online surveys or reviews.  
• Delete email accounts you’re no longer actively using and unsubscribe from any newsletters associated with the email address.
• Delete passwords stored on web browsers where they’re vulnerable to hacking and data breaches. Then, migrate them to a stand-alone password manager protected by encryption. 

How to protect your digital footprint

While eliminating all accounts might not be practical, there are some additional steps you can take to increase your digital footprint awareness, control the viewable data, and prevent information from falling into the wrong hands. Digital footprint maintenance improves when you:

• Use search engines to review your online presence. If others are searching your name to verify your credibility, it’s a good idea for you to do the same. Searching for your own name can reveal how your profile appears to outsiders and whether there is incorrect or unflattering information posted that you need to resolve. Most importantly, searching for your own name might reveal warning signs of identity theft.
• Limit your data sharing. You’re in control of your active digital profile. Anything you post might eventually be seen by friends, colleagues, or a prospective employer, so err on the side of caution when it comes to sharing personal details online. This approach also helps to elevate your security profile if an organization you’ve shared data with is impacted by a data breach.
• Check your privacy settings. Laws and regulations for online data privacy include rules for collecting, storing, and sharing customer information. These laws help you manage your digital footprint by limiting the ways information can be distributed without your consent. Each social media platform also includes customizable privacy settings that let you decide who can view images and posts. Setting your profiles to private gives you more control over who can access the personal information and photos you share.
• Use a VPN on public WiFi. Malls, airports, cafés, and other public settings can be subject to hacking tactics like man-in-the-middle attacks designed to intercept your personal information. A virtual private network (VPN) should always be used on public networks to protect your privacy and accounts. The VPN encrypts all data going into or out of your device and routes it through a secure portal while masking your IP address so you can browse the internet privately.

• Use 2-factor authentication (2FA). The security practice known as 2-factor authentication (2FA) typically uses a second identifier, such as a code sent through an app or text, to provide an added layer of security during the login process. Since a hacker is unlikely to have both your credentials and device available, the additional time required to log in is balanced by enhanced account and privacy protection. 
• Use a password manager. The automatic generation and autofill of strong, encrypted passwords improves security and convenience by eliminating the need to manually create and store passwords. A password manager safeguards important aspects of your digital footprint by storing your information in a secure vault and enabling 2FA for an additional layer of security. Dashlane also provides Dark Web Monitoring, a secure password-sharing portal, and a Password Health score to continually track your weak, reused, and compromised passwords.

Maintaining data privacy means managing sensitive data responsibly to protect yourself and those around you. Learn how to improve your data security literacy and keep personal and company data separate in our Guide to Data Privacy .

• Dataprot, “ What is a Digital Footprint: Everything You Need To Know ,” May 2023.
• Reputation X, “ What is a digital footprint? ” March 2023.
• Network World, “ What is an IP address? And what is your IP address? ” May 2022.
• DMN, “ Social Media Footprint Facts: What You Should Know ,” December 2021.
• Dashlane, “ Are Private Browsers Really Private + Tips for Secure Browsing ,” March 2023.
• Reader’s Digest, “ 3 Times You Shouldn’t “Accept Cookies” on a Site ,” November 2021.
• Dashlane, “ One of the Most Common Data Breaches Your Organization Can Prevent with One Step ,” November 2021.
• Dashlane, “ Are Digital Wallets Safe? ” June 2023.
• Backblaze, “ Metadata: Your File’s Hidden DNA and You ,” February 2020.
• Bitdefender, “ What goes online, stays online: How a negative digital footprint can affect your life ,” March 2022.
• Dashlane, “ How to Erase Saved Browser Passwords: Step-by-Step Guide ,” November 2022.
• Dashlane, “ What To Do If a Scammer Has Access To Your Email Address ,” March 2023.
• Dashlane, “ 6 Things a Safe Username Should Always Do ,” February 2023.
• Zippia, “ What Percentage of Employers Check Social Media? ” December 2022.
• Forbes, “ The Truth In User Privacy And Targeted Ads ,“ February 2022.
• Dashlane, “ 11 Cyber Threats To Be Aware of & Defend Against ,” April 2023.
• Dashlane, “ Data Breach or Hack? Know the Difference ,” June 2021.
• Dashlane, “ What the Hack Is Phishing? ” March 2020.
• Bipartisan Policy Center, “ What Your Digital Footprint Reveals and Who is Watching ,” December 2022.
• Digitalfootprintcheck, “ Protecting Yourself from Online Dating Scams with Digital Footprint Check ,” 2023.
• Dashlane, “ What Is Data Privacy & Why Is It Important? ” April 2023.
• Dashlane, “ A Beginner’s Guide to Two-Factor Authentication ,” August 2022.
• Dashlane, “ Our Guide to Data Privacy ,” 2023.

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• The Internet and Ethical Debate on Information Privacy Words: 2531
• Effects of Social Media and Internet Words: 601
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My Digital Footprint on the Internet

Digital footprint includes all the content that I leave on the internet as I use it. For example, there may be my comments on social media, email records, the information I use on the apps installed on my computer or phone, and skype calls ( Four Reasons ). Other people have the potential to see this information because it can be found in my online history. Part of it can also be tracked in databases. In fact, hackers may find a way to steal my money in the bank using my digital footprint. Spyware might be on the PCs or laptops that I use, therefore, it might have silently collected my data and given it to the criminals. From my perspective, I have used personal information to log in to the apps on my tablet and computer and shopped on the websites. Hence, part of my history is online, and, in my opinion, I am exposed to privacy risks regarding the use of my information.

Personal data about me include my medical records, the information I give when registering on social media apps, such as personal contact and location, or government services, such as diving license, my browsing history, and online purchases. The websites used in my review are google.com and google.com/images. I did not expect to find the data about my social media platforms and even my images on google.com/images. I believe that my digital footprint makes me vulnerable to cyber insecurities.

Today, the US companies based on the internet create and store citizen’s personal data, including race, ideology/religion, and sexuality ( Four Reasons ). In my opinion, there are no effective laws to protect the rights to privacy of the Americans. Contrastingly, the EU keeps the personal information of people on social media safe by using the GDPR, which restricts companies from collecting personal data or reusing it. I am sure that the US needs to implement laws like the UK and other European countries to protect the personal information of the users that companies try to gather.

In order to control my own footprint, I will delete my old posts, especially those that I am not comfortable with. I will also read the privacy terms and conditions before accepting to authorize social media apps and websites to use my personal data. Most importantly, I will contact google.com and google.com/images to remove cached content.

“ Four Reasons to Care about Your Digital Footprint .” YouTube , uploaded by Internet Society, 2016, Web.

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What is a digital footprint? And how to protect it from hackers

Digital footprint – meaning and definition

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. Internet users create their digital footprint either actively or passively.

What is a digital footprint?

Whenever you use the internet, you leave behind a trail of information known as your digital footprint. A digital footprint grows in many ways – for example, posting on social media, subscribing to a newsletter, leaving an online review, or shopping online.

Sometimes, it’s not always obvious that you are contributing to your digital footprint. For example, websites can track your activity by installing cookies on your device, and apps can collate your data without you knowing it. Once you allow an organization to access your information, they could sell or share your data with third parties. Worse still, your personal information could be compromised as part of a data breach.

You often hear the terms ‘active’ and ‘passive’ in relation to digital footprints:

Active digital footprints

An active digital footprint is where the user has deliberately shared information about themselves – for example, through posting or participating on social networking sites or online forums. If a user is logged into a website through a registered username or profile, any posts they make form part of their active digital footprint. Other activities that contribute to active digital footprints include completing an online form – such as subscribing to a newsletter – or agreeing to accept cookies on your browser.

Passive digital footprints

A passive digital footprint is created when information is collected about the user without them being aware that this is happening. For example, this occurs when websites collect information about how many times users visit, where they come from, and their IP address . This is a hidden process, which users may not realize is taking place. Other examples of passive footprints include social networking sites and advertisers using your likes, shares, and comments to profile you and target you with specific content.

Why do digital footprints matter?

Digital footprints matter because:

• They are relatively permanent, and once the data is public – or even semi-public, as may be the case with Facebook posts - the owner has little control over how others will use it.
• A digital footprint can determine a person’s digital reputation, which is now considered as important as their offline reputation.
• Employers can check their potential employees’ digital footprints, particularly their social media, before making hiring decisions. Colleges and universities can check their prospective students’ digital footprints before accepting them too.
• Words and photos which you post online can be misinterpreted or altered, causing unintentional offense.
• Content intended for a private group can spread to a broader circle, potentially damaging relationships and friendships.
• Cybercriminals can exploit your digital footprint – using it for purposes such as phishing for account access or creating false identities based on your data.  

For these reasons, it is worth considering what your digital footprint says about you. Many people try to manage their digital footprint by being cautious about their online activities to control the data that can be gathered in the first place. 

Digital footprint examples

An internet user could have hundreds of items form part of their digital footprint. Some of the ways in which users add to their digital footprint include:

Online shopping

• Making purchases from e-commerce websites
• Signing up for coupons or creating an account
• Downloading and using shopping apps
• Registering for brand newsletters

Online banking

• Using a mobile banking app
• Buying or selling stocks
• Subscribing to financial publications and blogs
• Opening a credit card account

Social media

• Using social media on your computer or devices
• Logging into other websites using your social media credentials
• Connecting with friends and contacts
• Sharing information, data, and photos with your connections
• Joining a dating site or app

Reading the news

• Subscribing to an online news source
• Viewing articles on a news app
• Signing up for a publication’s newsletter
• Reposting articles and information you read

Health and fitness

• Using fitness trackers
• Using apps to receive healthcare
• Registering your email address with a gym
• Subscribing to health and fitness blogs

Protect your digital footprint

Because employers, colleges, and others can look up your online identity, it’s a good idea to be mindful of your digital footprint. Here are some tips for protecting your personal data and managing your online reputation.

Use search engines to check your digital footprint

Enter your name into search engines. Include your first and last name and any variations on spellings. If you have changed your name, search for both current and former names. Reviewing the search engine results will give you a sense of what information about you is publicly available. If any of the results show you in a negative light, you could contact the site administrator to see if they can remove it. Setting up Google Alerts is one way to keep an eye on your name.

Reduce the number of information sources that mention you

For example, real estate websites and whitepages.com may have more information about you than you may wish. These sites can often include personal information like your phone number, address, and age. If you are not comfortable with this, you can contact the websites and request that the information is removed.

Limit the amount of data you share

Every time you provide your personal information to an organization, you widen your digital footprint. You also increase the possibility that one of the organizations storing your data will misuse it or suffer a breach, putting your data in the wrong hands. So, before you submit that form, consider if it’s worth it. Are there other ways to obtain that information or service without sharing your data?

Double-check your privacy settings

Privacy settings on social media allow you to control who sees your posts. Review these settings and ensure they are set to a level you are comfortable with. For example, Facebook allows you to limit posts to friends and make customized lists of people who can see certain posts. However, bear in mind that privacy settings only protect you on the relevant social media site.

Avoid oversharing on social media

Social media makes it easy to connect with others but can also make oversharing easy. Think twice before revealing your location or travel plans, or other personal information. Avoid disclosing your phone number or email address in your social media bio. It's also a good idea to avoid 'liking' your own bank, healthcare provider, pharmacy, etc. – as this can lead cybercriminals to your critical accounts.

Avoid unsafe websites

Make sure you’re transacting with a secure website – the URL should start with https:// rather than http:// - the “s” stands for “secure” and indicates that the site has a security certificate . There should also be a padlock icon to the left of the address bar. Never share any confidential information on unsecured sites, especially payment details.

Avoid disclosing private data on public Wi-Fi

A public Wi-Fi network is inherently less secure than your personal one since you don't know who set it up or who else might be watching. Avoid sending personal information when using public Wi-Fi networks.

Delete old accounts

One way to reduce your digital footprint is by deleting old accounts – for example, social media profiles you no longer use or newsletter subscriptions you no longer read. Getting rid of dormant accounts minimizes your exposure to potential data breaches.

Create strong passwords and use a password manager

A strong password will help you maintain internet security. A strong password is long – made up of at least 12 characters and ideally more – and contains a mix of upper- and lower-case letters plus symbols and numbers. The more complex and involved your password, the harder it is to crack. Using a password manager will help generate, store, and manage all your passwords in one secure online account. Keep your passwords private – avoid sharing them with others or writing them down. Try to avoid using the same password for all your accounts, and remember to change them regularly.

Keep an eye on your medical records

Practice good data hygiene by periodically reviewing your medical records. Identity thieves target medical and health information as well as financial data. When criminals use your personal information to obtain medical treatment in your name, their health records can become intertwined with your own.

Don’t log in with Facebook 

Logging into websites and apps using Facebook is convenient. However, every time you sign into a third-party website using your Facebook credentials, you give that company permission to mine your Facebook user data – potentially placing your personal information at risk.

Keep software up to date

Outdated software could house a wealth of digital footprints. Without the latest updates, cybercriminals could gain access to this information. Cybercriminals can easily access a victim’s devices and data by exploiting vulnerabilities in software. You can help prevent this by keeping your software up to date. Older software can be more vulnerable to attacks by hackers.

Review your mobile use

Set a passcode for your mobile device so that it can't be accessed by other people if you lose it. When installing an app, read the user agreement. Many apps disclose what kind of information they collect and what it may be used for. These apps may mine personal data like your email, location, and online activities. Check that you are comfortable with the information being shared before you use the app.

Think before you post

What you post or say online sends a message about who you are, as does what others reveal about you. Aspects of your digital footprint, such as uploaded photographs, blog comments, YouTube videos, and Facebook posts, might not portray the way you would like to be seen. Create a positive digital footprint by posting only those things that contribute to the image of you that you want others to see.

Act fast after a breach

If you suspect your data might have been compromised in a breach, take action immediately. If a financial loss is involved, contact your bank or credit card provider to report the breach. Change any passwords that might have been exposed. If it's a password you have used for other accounts, update it across the board.

Using a virtual private network, or VPN, can help safeguard your digital footprint. This is because VPNs mask your IP address which makes your online actions virtually untraceable. This protects your privacy online and can prevent websites from installing cookies that track your internet browsing history. Kaspersky Secure Connection enables you to have a secure connection between your device and an internet server that no one can monitor or access the data you are exchanging.

Related articles:

• How to protect your privacy online as business and personal use converge
• How to hide your IP address
• How to set up a secure home network
• What is VPN? How it works and types of VPN

Related articles

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Digital Footprints and Forensic Investigations Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

What Is A Digital Footprint And Why Is It Important

• Emily Scott

In the technological and modern society tracing someone's activity in the online world is very easy. The definition of digital footprint clearly states that it is the traces of a person's online activity and nothing else. The matter is of two types one is active, and the other one is passive. The online world is easily accessible. To understand an active digital footprint, you must understand its definition. A person who deliberately gives online activity information is called an active digital footprint. The passive method provides information about an individual without concern for the particular person. Analyzing the facts is going to deliver you the best kind of information on what digital footprint is.

The Importance Of Digital Footprint

It is not a matter of gathering one person's online activity. The main concern is what the person is doing. If they are going down a dark path, online activity is the first thing to provide a glimpse. The matter is serious and digital footprint will provide its fullest information. Apart from gathering information, the digital footprint provides knowledge on what the person likes and how well the orientation of his mind is. If you find your friend and beloved family member is posting something obnoxious and disgraceful, you can stop him from going down the dark path. In this  technological society, a digital footprint can give you full information about a person's thoughts. Regardless of all thoughts of getting diverted from the prime goal, one person should track all the information of his online activity. When technology has become too much available and regularly influences all activities, keeping it aside and thinking without its influence has become impossible. That is why analysis of your digital footprint is highly necessary. This will provide valuable information on what you are doing and what you should avoid.

Apart from that, in any organization where people work under a concealed network, a digital footprint helps ensure that nothing is being leaked. This will provide good information on the aspects that are vulnerable to breaching by any person unconditionally.

The Pros And Cons Of Digital Footprint

Like every other technical upgradation, the digital footprint has its benefits and cons. In most cases, people who regularly check online activity get knowledge about themselves that is untold and cannot be told to them. The pros and cons will be discussed specifically so that you can understand what influence it has and how it can improve your life.

• With the help of a digital footprint detecting fraudulent activity becomes easy. Any fraud case is best detected by checking the online world.
• What is suggested to you, like products for daily use, is a good measure to be considered because your sense of choice is reflected in it. You need to know what you have and what you are willing to go for. This is vital information in an advertisement that provides good information about yourself.
• Companies dealing in internet media can easily trace what the organization's people are doing and can reward them with incentives that motivate them to work better. This will increase your performance, and the entire organization will benefit from the company's awarding decision.
• Apart from this, in a student's life, one teacher can better understand progress if he regularly checks the online activity. If he has a trace of his student's activity, he can suggest which is acceptable for his specified course and which is not.
• In this context, one of the most harmful things is that your data can be easily checked. According to that, one service provider can easily notice your activities without concern.
• Being distracted by advertisements is not admired by anyone and is one of the worst things you will face. If you search for anything,  Google AdSense will deliver advertisements related to your searches when you need to concentrate on a particular aspect.

There are many procedures through which you can delete the data on your digital footprints, and applying them will provide you with a peaceful mindset while you work on an important project.

In this context, if you want to derive more information on digital footprint, then you need to go for  Essaycorp because the efficient professionals are ready to respond to you anytime to answer your queries. In most cases, it is seen that professionals are willing to provide you with data on your digital footprint and do assignments related to certain topics. Quality work and deadline-meeting assurance will be given to you from the beginning, and they will work in the same process. Trust the team, and you will never get any willow them, and your assignments will be good to be submitted.

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Mar 27, 2019

Understanding Your Digital Footprint

In other words: It's what's left behind as you casually browse the web, post on social media or even type into a chat service. Whether or not you’re aware, you contribute to your digital footprint or profile each day when you log onto the Internet. The websites you visit, the news posts you comment on, the comments you leave on social media platforms— each of these items come together to create a portrait of your online life.

The digital footprint that is left behind can have repercussions in all areas of your teen's life, potentially resulting in missed job opportunities, public sharing of personal information, ruined relationships — or, in what is likely more relevant to them right now: Their parents finding out what they've been up to and subsequently being punished.

Why Good Digital Citizenship is Important for Kids

Your child’s digital footprint and the way the behave online, their digital citizenship, are important because teens have grown up with technology all around them and are not yet equipped with the knowledge that their actions go far beyond that blog comment or Facebook post they just left. A poor decision made in a split second can damage your child’s digital footprint and follow them to adulthood, which is why teaching your child about good digital citizenship and social media etiquette is of the utmost importance.

Take for example, the teens who had their admission offers rescinded because of their behavior in a Facebook group for newly admitted students. Those students likely spent their entire academic careers preparing for admission to an Ivy League school, only to have their online behavior ruin what they had worked towards.

The Harvard Crimson reported that “In the group, students sent each other memes and other images mocking sexual assault, the Holocaust, and the deaths of children, according to screenshots of the chat obtained by The Crimson. Some of the messages joked that abusing children was sexually arousing, while others had punchlines directed at specific ethnic or racial groups.” After being notified of the chat and its contents, Harvard administrators acted by rescinding offers for at least 10 members of the group.

While the students in question did not intend for their highly inappropriate posts to be seen worldwide, the moral of the story is – nothing is truly private on the Internet . And, while this seems like an obvious statement to make, the truth is that kids of all ages are still making social media mistakes that could affect their future.

Make sure your teen is aware of what their digital footprint looks like and what it means for them now, and further down the line, with these simple talking points.

Social Media Isn’t Going Away

While growing up, many of us heard the threat in school — “this is going on your permanent record!” We questioned whether the third-grade teacher and middle school principals really had a permanent record for each of us. But it turns out, in this digital age, those teachers were right. There is a permanent record on social media and people actually look at it!

Your digital footprint can negatively impact your teens if they aren't careful. For example:

• According to a study by CareerBuilder, 70% of employers say that they screen potential employees on social media and that what they find does have an impact on hiring decisions.
• And from that same CareerBuilder study, 51% of employers found content on social media that caused them to pass on an otherwise good candidate. Most common reasons to pass included provocative or inappropriate photos or information (46%), bad mouthing a previous company or fellow employees (36%), and poor communication skills (32%).
• A survey from Kaplan found that 40% of college admissions officers visited applicants' social media pages when making decisions.

This means that what your teen posts online could have a significant impact on their success later in life. While these stats sound threatening, remind your teens: It's not all bad news .

How Kids Can Improve Their Digital Footprint

Your teen's digital footprint can be controlled by following some simple Internet-use rules. Making smart choices when online can even lead to a positive digital footprint down the line that can help them succeed in college and their career.

When talking to your teen about their digital footprint, give them the following tips:

Always Be Smart When Web Browsing

Don't visit sites that make you nervous, uncomfortable or unsure about what you're looking at. If you're at school or a friend's house and see someone doing so, tell an adult right away.

Turn on Your Social Media Privacy Settings

Facebook hasn't always been forthcoming about their privacy settings and have come under fire many times because of it. However, every social site, blog, and online profile has privacy settings. The most important of these settings: Make your account private and manually approve any new friends or followers.

Be Responsible on Social Media

Don't ever disclose personal information, like your address, phone number or bank information. And most importantly, think before you post . Anything you post online, whether it's a social media upload, a comment on a blog post, or a response in a forum, is public and can be discovered by almost anyone.

Some Things Are Out of Your Control

While teens should know that they can take precautions to reduce the amount of people who can see what they put online, it's important that they also know that the Internet is public and there are some things that will always be out of their control. Some of these things include:

• Photo uploads Photos that are uploaded online can become the property of the website to which you uploaded it. While sites like Facebook may never do anything with that, it's forever online, on their servers, and very much out of your control. Uploading a bad picture and deleting it a few minutes or seconds later doesn't change this.
• IP Address IP (Internet Protocol) addresses are linked to every action on every device that's used to access the Internet. Police can use this information to find out what device was being used in a crime and hackers can use it to steal information from your computer or inject a virus. The only way to hide this is to use a VPN or other technically challenging tactics and software.

Social Media Can Be a Good Thing

While all of this will sound scary to your teen, it's important to remind them that it also presents a great opportunity. A positive digital footprint can bode very well for them in the future and teens could use their digital footprint as an opportunity to build their own brand.

In fact, the same Kaplan survey found that a third of admissions officers said they discovered details that showed leadership and interest in community service, which reflected favorably on the applicants.

Some ways to build a positive footprint include participating in professional group forums, maintaining a blog about their interests, and posting schoolwork that they're proud of. Teens can use websites like SoundCloud to upload musical projects or About.Me to feature their best work online.

Investigate Your Own Reputation

We’re all better off by minimizing the amount of personal information we have online, as hackers compile this data to try to breach accounts. If you have not taken a look at your digital footprint, it’s time to trace it and see what’s out there about you.

The easiest way to see what’s out there on the Internet about you is to place your name in quotation marks into a search engine — Google, Bing, Yahoo! — and sift through the results. If your name does not yield results, try adding the city and state in which you reside to further refine results. Don’t forget to check the images that are attached to your name in the search results as well.

Use this as a way to show them that their digital footprint is very real, even for those who use the Internet casually. This activity is not meant to scare them, rather, to show them how transparent the Internet is — if they've participated in cyberbullying or written a nasty blog post, you — and millions of other people — will be able to find it. Parental control software is a great tool to help parents monitor the social networks and Internet destinations that their children use.

Can You Erase Your Digital Footprint?

If your Internet search yielded results, especially if questionable sites appeared, your next order of duty is online reputation management. While you may not be able to completely eradicate your digital footprint, there are definitely things you can do to reduce your current online presence.

The first thing you should do is make a list of all of the online accounts you know that you have, from online shopping and social media platforms to popular chat sites like Reddit . Once you have a list of accounts, sift through and delete any of the accounts you no longer use or deem unnecessary. If you find that you can’t delete an account, at least edit the information so that it doesn’t have any ties to your actual information.

If you’ve commented on blogs or web pages, you can contact the site owner directly — typically through the Contact Us or About Us tabs — and ask them to delete your comment and information from their site. Simply explain that you are trying to reduce your digital footprint and you’d appreciate their assistance. Most site owners shouldn’t take issue with your request, but you should know that they are not obligated to remove your information.

If you’ve been the victim of doxxing or found sensitive personal information about yourself on the Internet, you can contact Google to request that they remove your information.

How a Parental Control Software Can Help

Net Nanny’s Family Protection Pass can take the guesswork out of your child’s online behavior by allowing you to easily monitor the sites they visit and even the keywords they use to search online. Native device controls don’t have the capacity to screen as much as each family might need, though.

In addition to being able to screen the sites and apps your child is using, a parental control software like Net Nanny can give parents the ability to quickly and easily filter the Internet , monitor activity, or set alerts for when flagged sites, apps, and search terms are entered or used. Using a tool like this can help provide the pause teens and tweens need when managing their online reputation.

Download Our Social Media Contract

Agreeing on social media rules is an important step that families can take to inform, educate and guide their teens on responsible Internet usage. Download our Social Media Contract to use with your family.

Ultimately, the Internet is public, not private and that's the most important takeaway. Their digital footprint will never go away . Remind your teens to treat this as an opportunity to show the best parts of themselves, so if a college admissions officer does "stumble upon" their various profiles, they'll be one step ahead of the rest.

Managing your child’s digital footprint means having candid conversations about good digital citizenship and following proper social media etiquette. You cannot stress the importance of your child’s digital footprint enough, especially now that college admissions and employers routinely scan candidates’ digital behavior.

It’s never too early to begin cleaning up or reducing your digital footprint, which can be done by minimizing the number of online accounts you hold, as well as conducting periodic Internet searches under your name.

Jessica Thiefels

Jessica Thiefels has been writing for more than 10 years. She is currently a lifestyle and education blogger and the editor of Whooo's Reading and Carpe Daily. She's been featured on PBS.org, Home.com and FamilyEducation.com. When she's not writing or editing, she's trying new DIY projects around the house or training fitness clients. Follow her on Twitter @Jlsander07 .

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