Your Digital Footprint

In today’s world, where everything has turned digital, almost everything you do will leave a trace, which is why it’s important to think before you do anything. From making a post on social media to submitting an assignment online, it’s as easy as that. This is called a digital footprint, and it contains all of your information that’s on the internet, but you might think, “Why is this important?” When it comes to a digital footprint, there are two kinds. There’s the positive kind, and then there’s the negative kind, which is why it’s so important to keep track of. A positive footprint is something that can help you now and later, whereas a negative footprint can set you back.

Having a positive digital footprint is important since online information is constantly being reviewed, for example, by colleges, universities, and employers. When it comes to being a student and maintaining a positive digital footprint, it’s essential to do so. A student with a positive footprint may stand out compared to others, especially when applying for jobs and college. There are so many ways that a student can create a positive footprint, and being mindful online is one of them because it can have long-lasting effects. One of the most important ways is to start thinking before hitting send, “I have been promoting the ‘think before you post’ message.”(Jalger) this simple reflection can prevent so many things. This is why being mindful about what you say online is so important. Creating a positive footprint starts with thinking before you post or comment on anything. One of the ways that the internet can be used positively is by spreading the word about programs or any sort of projects that people can join in on, “Hi! Welcome to Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference, a blog project that I started when I was in elementary school. It’s been a long time since I posted here. “(Angela) she positively used her social medial to talk about a project that shes been working on, which is a good use of her digital footprint.

Why does a negative footprint affect you? If a college or job that you are applying for realizes that you have a negative footprint, “Employers are increasingly making use of Internet search engines to locate and evaluate online information about potential employees.”(Jalger) it can reflect on you, which ends up turning them away from making you one of their candidates. In the end, using harmful language and posting offensive material will continue to stay on the internet even though you think it might be gone. Which is why you need to watch what you post and comment, because it can really make a difference. Overall, being mindful of you post and shares is essential because a positive footprint. Having a positive presence online can create opportunities, while a negative one can cause consequences.

“digital footprint (right)” by John Curtis (Teacher Librarian) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

“Sand Footprint Texture” by L.C.Nøttaasen is licensed under CC BY 2.0.