Digital Footprint

Have you ever Googled yourself before? If not, you might be surprised to see what your virtual identity looks like because everything you do online is collected into a digital dossier, otherwise known as your digital footprint. This footprint is traceable by others and is virtually impossible to eliminate. Our students must become aware of their digital identity, so that they can learn how to manage and develop it into a positive one. It is imperative that they keep themselves and their personal information safe as the lines between the digital and real world have become blurred.

Image sourced from Ollie Bray free internet safety and responsible use cartoons

Tips for Managing Digital Footprints

Never post anything that you might find embarrassing later.
Be careful with the pictures you post on your public profiles. Remember others will see them and judge you based on their content.
Change the privacy settings on your social networking sites so that only your Friends can see your information
Do not disclose your personal address, phone number, passwords. Bank card numbers...etc even in private messages. There is always the possibility of somebody hacking into your account and finding them.

Do not post things to bully, hurt, blackmail, insult, or afflict any kind of harm on others
Always keep in mind that once information has been posted online, it can be almost impossible to remove because of archiving and file sharing. Even though you deactivate your accounts, the information may still be retrieved by others.