WHAT IS A DIGITAL FOOTPRINT?
When you are online, it is important to remember that whatever you do in the virtual world, will leave what is called a ‘Digital Footprint‘.
‘What is this?’ you ask…
Well, on a basic level, a digital footprint is like a trail you leave behind whenever you do something online. A little bit like the footprints you leave in the sand on a beach, only these footprints will not wash away the next time the sea comes in. They are permanent. Whether it’s a comment on Facebook or Twitter, or a picture you post on Snapchat – even something you have bought online – it will leave information about you somewhere on the World Wide Web.
Have you ever noticed that when you’ve been searching for something online – say you were looking for a new pair of trainers – that all the adverts which then appear on your Facebook or Twitter account are for trainers? It is therefore VERY important that you think about what you are doing while you are on the internet. Have a look at my ’10 Top Tips’ post on the home page and think about these every time you log on, and especially before you add any personal information online.
You can try for yourself to see some of your own digital footprint. Put your name into a search engine and you may be surprised what you can find out about you!!! Another reason for you to take care online – especially on Social Media – is that when you are older and looking for a job, the place where you want to work will probably have a look at your Social Media account. So, if you have spent your teenage years posting inappropriate pictures or have been making comments to be nasty to other people, they will be less likely to want to give you a job. So ALWAYS remember that whatever
you do online is out there in the Virtual World for anybody to see.
Have a look at
this short video which will reinforce the information which you have read here…