Your Digital FootprintManaging Your Online Identity

Definition—Digital Footprint

Information about a person that can be accessed online.

Active Digital Footprint◦Information a person has volunteered

Passive Digital Footprint◦Information about a person collected and stored

by someone else

The term “Digital Footprint” refers to both a person’s Active and Passive Footprints.

Active Digital Footprint

Social Media◦Facebook◦Linked In◦MySpace (those old accounts are still out there!)

Blogs and/or WebsitesPersonal Information Posted

◦Relationships◦Interests◦Work Histories

Sometimes Sold for Advertising

Passive Digital Footprint

Bank Statements and Account InformationCredit ScoresPurchasing HistoriesCriminal RecordsEducation RecordsInternet Browsing HabitsPhysical Locations Visited

Passive Digital Footprints--MORE

Smart Phones◦GPS

Track, Save and Broadcast your location

◦Applications aka “Apps” Request access to contact lists and messaging

◦Credit and Debit Card Information Purchasing apps

◦Pictures Can be stolen without the user’s knowledge

Who Cares???

Online Retailers and Webmasters

Potential Employers

Criminals

Institutions Studying Human Psychology

Digital Footprints are Permanent

Finding Voluntarily-Supplied DataFinding Data Collected by Third PartiesHaving Data Removed from Active Websites

◦Information still exists in cached pages Cached = archived copies of old version of websites

Teaching About Online IdentityDigital Footprint

Protect Information

Strong, Unique Passwords◦Each password you use should be different◦Not found in any dictionary◦Not your name◦Not 12345678◦Not, Really NOT Password

Password Manager◦LastPass

The Last Password You Have to Remember https://lastpass.com/how-it-works/ Other Password Managers

Identity Theft Protection

Consider paperless statements◦Helps to avoid documents falling into the wrong

handsShred materials with personal informationNever click on links in emails from

someone unknownBeware of telemarketing scams

◦Do not give out information online or on the telephone that you would not give to a stranger on the street.

Private Information

Full NameStreet AddressEmail AddressDate of BirthTelephone NumbersCredit Card InformationDriver’s License NumberMother’s Maiden NameName of School (for children)

Online ReputationDigital Footprint

Google Yourself

1,540 Results

Under Images Pictures of me Pieces of Presentations Pictures of Librarians

First few results Definitely Me Stuff I forgot Maybe me Definitely Not Me

Click icon to add picture

Negative Online Activity

Applying for CollegesApplying for JobsBuilding Personal Relationships

Managing Your Digital Footprint

Remove any content you ownUntag yourself from unsavory images on

Facebook or request that your “friend” remove the image completely

Lock down your social networks by strengthening your Privacy Settings

Take personal information like education, employment, and hometown out of your Facebook account

Digital Citizenship

The website http://digitalcitizenship.net defines Digital Citizenship as the appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use.

Schools (school librarians in particular) are being called to develop curriculum that teaches Digital Citizenship.

How Do We Act When Online

Digital Etiquette◦http://brainpop.com/spotlight/digitalcitizenship

Digital SafetyCopyright Basics

◦http://copyrightkids.orgUnderstanding Cyberbullying

◦http://stopcyberbullying.org/index2.htmlBasic Civics

◦http://icivics.org

References

Digital footprint. (2015). Salem Press Encyclopedia.Rivero, V. (2014). Teaching and learning the ways

of our brave new digital world. Internet@Schools. Jan./Feb. p. 6-8.

Wall, M. (2014). Managing your digital footprint. Fairfield County Business Journal. March 24. p. 11.

Willmer, D. (2009) Managing your digital footprint. T & D. June. P. 84-5

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/curriculum