Strive For a Positive Digital Footprint

It is important to have a positive digital footprint for many reasons. It varies from employers looking, people having a bad outlook on you, hurting other people’s feelings. These are just a few of the many reasons to want to, and strive to have a positive digital footprint. To create a positive footprint, you should avoid posting and commenting negative things.

Often after applying for a job, employers will look at your digital footprint. Social media is something they will look at which shows a lot about character. In an article by Jaiger, they state employers will look at your digital footprint to determine things such as, “an indication of the applicant’s personality online profile supports professional qualifications and conduct, good communication skills, creativity, groups which the applicant is participating in, do other people provide good references and comments about them, have they received any awards and accolades.” Things such as comments, posts, or anything of that manner could potentially ruin your chance of getting a job, which is one reason why it is important to stay positive and respectful online.

Another reason is whatever you may say online could be hurtful. You may think it”s funny and show your friends, but whoever you made a comment towards could see it, and who knows what could happen. This could create a negative digital footprint. In an article by Angela, she states, ” Last week, I was in Idaho at the Special Olympics Youth Activation Summit. Well, when I was there, we talked a lot about how people use the word “retard” in really insensitive ways.” People using this insensitive word varies from online, to real life. Specifically for this topic, online is the focus. Saying things like this online could be hurtful, and would create a negative digital footprint, and potentially hurt someones feelings. These things should be avoided, and not said, especially in the negative manner that it is always used in.

One more way to have a positive digital footprint is shown by a principal in Canada. An article by jaiger states, “He is a school Principal in Alberta, Canada who has his own blog, Youtube channel, social media accounts and an online digital resume. All of these are done in a social, yet professional context.” He is in a profession where you need to be positive all around, whether it be online or in person. He does these things online that portrays his as a positive person, and does it in the right way.

It is important to have a positive digital footprint. You should always be positive and kind on the internet, you never know what may happen because of the things you say. While it is very easy nowadays to get “cancelled” and be negative, you should always strive for the opposite.

Featured Image: “Footprints” by andy_5322 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.