1. How might your digital footprint affect your future opportunities? Give at least two examples.
An important future opportunity that could be affected by your digital footprint could include getting or keeping a job. Many companies will search your name to find any past information about you that would prevent them from hiring you. If they find any negative information, you will be unable to get a job and provide for yourself or family. Another opportunity that could be taken away from poor information in someone’s digital footprint is building meaningful relationships with others. People are not going to be open to friendships with those that have made poor decisions in the past that leave a negative digital footprint. To summarize, any poor or negative information about you online will follow you and affect many opportunities throughout the rest of your life. Digital footprints could also help you to get jobs. If someone looks up your name and you have a positive digital footprint,
2. Describe at least three strategies that you can use to keep your digital footprint appropriate and safe.
A good strategy for keeping an appropriate digital footprint would be to make sure you are not posting any personal information on online platforms. This includes your school address, email, passwords, and more. This way no one can access your information and use it inappropriately. Another good strategy could be making your accounts on public platforms private so you can maintain control of who sees your content. To add, it is also extremely important that social media is not being used for bullying, hurting, or insulting anyone, as this is not kind, and can get you in a lot of trouble later. It is important to know thta once something is put on the internet, it stays on the internet and there is simply no way deleting it permanately.
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.
I think I have been responsible online. I don’t feel that as my younger self I was irresponsible with technology, but I do feel like I was very unaware of the dangers of the internet and how much of your information can be taken and used inappropriately. I can’t think of a time where I posted or shared something negative or dangerous to myself or others but the advice I would give to younger me would involve educating myself so I am able to be more aware of what could happen if I’m not careful. I would explain that even if information is spread through direct messaging or private social media accounts, it can sometimes still be hacked and accessed. I would also share how many opportunities would be taken away if I were to say something negative or inappropriate online. I am glad that nothing comes up about me when I search my name, but I would have liked to be more aware about my digital footprint when I was younger.