Leaving a digital footprint
Your digital footprint is the record of all your interactions online. Once something is posted or shared online, it can be there forever. Understanding your digital footprint helps you choose and control what you leave online for others to find.
Every time you are online you create a trail of any information you have viewed or created. This is known as your digital footprint. The internet makes accessing and sharing this information very easy, so it is important to understand and consider your digital footprint whenever you are sharing pictures and videos, making posts and comments and chatting online. Leaving a positive digital footprint can be very beneficial to your reputation and future opportunities. Guiding young people to leave a positive digital footprint is a good way to build their positive reputation.
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Why is your digital footprint important?
Your digital footprint can have a lasting impact on your reputation, relationships and employment opportunities (both positive and negative). Understanding how this works is an important step toward making this impact a positive one. To learn about why your digital footprint is important, watch the following Internet Society video.
Creating a positive digital footprint
Right or wrong, your digital footprint can affect your reputation, both online and off line. Creating a positive digital footprint is an important part of protecting your reputation, both now and for the future. For some ideas on achieving this, watch Katelin McClure’s video on making a positive digital footprint.
Cleaning up your digital footprint
If you feel that your digital footprint does not reflect your best qualities, it is comforting to know that there are steps you can take to clean up your digital footprint (and improve your reputation). For practical advice on cleaning a digital footprint, read the ABC News article Protecting your children from their digital footprint.
To learn more about digital footprints, read the Scan journal article Expert insights into education for positive digital footprint development.
