1. How might your digital footprint affect your future opportunities? Give at least two examples.

Digital footprints can decide anything between getting a scholarship at a famous university or simply getting a part time job at a fast-food chain. If your digital footprint is un-satisfactory or inappropriate, then you may not be able to get a position in as many jobs. An example, is if you are applying for a new office job but your manager (or senior) sees that on your social media accounts that you post inappropriate images and messages, then you probably would not get the job you otherwise would have. Having no digital footprint is also not a good strategy. If you check all the boxes for a scholarship but have no digital footprint you have missed an opportunity to have a positive reference on yourself, and the scholarship will more likely be given to someone who has a healthy and positive digital footprint. The trick is to have a well managed footprint that projects a positive view of yourself.

2. Describe at least three strategies that you can use to keep your digital footprint appropriate and safe.

An amazing strategy for keeping a healthy digital footprint is using the acronym T.H.I.N.K. Before you post you should think, is it true? Is it helpful? Is it illegal? Is it necessary? Is it kind? If your post checks all of these boxes it should be safe to post. Another strategy for keeping a safe and appropriate digital footprint is to focus your posts on the good side of you. If you focus on the questionable and inappropriate things you commit you won’t look as professional as if you posted about your passions or volunteer work. The last tip for keeping your digital footprint professional is to try to shy away from any curses and swear words. Many people swear in their daily speech but if you constantly use curses when they are not necessary then you tend to look a lot less professional. If it came down to two applicants for the same job the person with the more professional image and digital footprint would likely get the position. The bottom line is that you should just think before you post. Think how this could affect your image or how it could affect you down the line.

3. If you could go back in time, is there anything that you would do differently online? Think of what advice you would pass on to your younger self or other students.

Until now I have not had the opportunity to post anything that I would come to regret. I simply have shied away form a lot of social media platforms for the simple reason that I did not need to be on them. If I wanted to talk to my friends, I would do so through private channels. Now that I am much more knowledgeable about what I should and should not post. I can now post without any worry that it will come back to haunt me ten years down the line.