The Learning Teacher-Librarian

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Digital Footprint Podcast Transcript:

In this podcast I will be discussing digital footprints - what are they, including the difference between active and passive footprints, why your footprint matters to you, and how you can be intentionally proactive about shaping your digital footprint.

First of all: What is a digital footprint? 

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According to Tech Terms (Christensson, 2014), “A digital footprint is a trail of data you create while using the Internet. It includes the websites you visit, emails you send, and information you submit to online services."

Your Passive Footprint: 

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• Data which is collected about you - your browsing, your purchases, your searches, your clicks - often without you even being aware of it. Sometimes it is just your IP address, other times it is more specific and personal data.  

• This information can be used to learn about consumer profiles, interests, what appeals or works, and what doesn’t - and is thus very valuable to advertisers.

• It might be used by the site itself, or sold to other parties.

• One of the most significant changes in law in the last several decades is the passing of the EU’s GDPR (or General Data Protection Regulation). This has, for example, required websites that collect data with cookies to now provide an opt out option for your data to be used for advertising. While it is not perfect, it is a huge step forward in regaining user privacy ground by forcing companies to view users as customers not inventory.  

• You need to be aware that by default, most platforms are open, for example, Twitter and Facebook. You need to play with your privacy settings A LOT to control who has access to your information, how, and how much. Facebook is particularly reliant on collecting user data, and there are lots of news stories you can look into about this if you want, such as the clashes between Facebook and Apple.

• It is important to have up-to-date software, have strong passwords that you will remember (consider even using a reputable password keeper), and to have up-to-date anti-virus software. However, this is all to help protect you from being hacked - personal information theft - or getting a virus. While these problems are more common than you might think, and these measures can significantly reduce your chances of being an easy target, these are issues of online security, not your digital footprint, and thus a topic for another day.

Your Active Footprint:

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So while your passive footprint is unintentional, your active footprint is what you have deliberately - actively - posted. 

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• Comments on sites, your posts or tweets, any images or videos - all these things are “out there.” 

• Think of posting online as “writing in ink” not using a pencil, as was said in the movie, The Social Network.

• Especially consider carefully when you use your real name online - aside from a heap of online safety concerns, this makes those aspects of your digital footprint obvious! However, anonymous posts or fake names are not foolproof security, either, so don’t be naive. A simple way to think of it is TMI - are you giving Too Much Information? - don’t “overshare”!

• Also, what may seem fine to share or post now, may not still be fine when you are applying for a scholarship, submitting a university application, or applying for a job. Ask yourself: Is this the message I will want to be sending about myself to someone I want to hire me?

• Rick Smolan (THINKR, 2013) gives the example that when you apply for a loan from a bank, they will check your credit history, but they will also ask you questions to try to find out how safe or risky of a loan this might be for them. Are you a responsible person who will pay them back? One bank started doing quick online searches, and lowered credit scores if they found that the applicant listens to rap music! 

• Your digital footprint provides all kinds of extra information for people to form judgements about you, fair or unfair. What messages are you sending, and what information are you making available?

However, you can also use this to your advantage. You can be deliberate and intentional about crafting your digital footprint. You can create an interesting and thoughtful blog, you can post intelligently, you can share things that are creative or inspiring, you can create a positive digital footprint. Beware, though - be restrained - always keep the future you in mind, and the future you might surprise you!

Remember that no one’s profile is the full embodiment of who they are. It is a profile, not a person! And you can choose how you want to present yourself to the world.

Maybe right now you just want to keep your digital footprint from being muddy, but at least that will keep things clean for when you are wanting to build a professional profile; there will simply be less out there to embarrass you later!

Thanks for listening. Have a great day and a great digital footprint!

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