Let’s play a game. I’m going to show a list of items, and decide if you have done any of them.

• You use a device connected to the internet
• You have and/or post on any social media (Snapchat, Instagram, Tiktok, etc)
• You have written something online
• You send emails
• You text
• You are reading this article

If you have done any of these, then congratulations! You have a digital footprint.

So what exactly is a digital footprint? 

The Oxford dictionary defines it as “the information about a particular person that exists on the internet as a result of their online activity,” or, in simpler terms, “the data left behind when users have been online.” 

A digital footprint includes your search history, browsing history, things you’ve “liked,” comments, pictures and articles you post, texts, videos, emails, accounts you create, and every other possible thing a person could do online. 

There are two types, the first being the active digital footprint. The active digital footprint is information a person has willingly chosen to share with the world. Under this would be filling out online forms, transactions, posting images, and more. 

The second type would be the passive digital footprint, which is the information collected without us really knowing. This would include searching anything on the internet, the websites you visit, and the pictures you view. 

Why should you care?

Your digital footprint has, and will have, a lasting impact on your digital reputation. Future employers, teachers, friends, and partners can use this information to find out about you, and if they find something bad, they might leave, or remove offers and opportunities. On the other hand, if you’re smart about your digital footprint, you might receive more of those opportunities and offers. 

In the end, just care about your digital footprint. The images that you put out of yourself will definitely affect you down the line, whether positive or negative. Be smart about what you post, and make sure to be yourself, but be your best self. Happy viewing!

Works Cited

Ericksen, Kristina. “Your Digital Footprint: What Is It and How Can You Manage It? | Rasmussen University.” Rasmussen University, 15 May 2018, www.rasmussen.edu/student-experience/college-life/what-is-digital-footprint.

Internet Society. “What Is the Digital Footprints Course?” Digital Footprints, Internet society, 2021, www.internetsociety.org/learning/digital-footprints.

Mudrakola, Sukesh. “Digital Footprints: Control How Much the Internet Knows About You.” TechGenix, 18 Oct. 2018, techgenix.com/digital-footprints-control.

Nissan, Kobi. “What Is a Digital Footprint – Mine.” Mine Blog, 4 May 2021, blog.saymine.com/blog-1/what-is-a-digital-footprint-exactly.

NSW Department of Education. “Leaving a Digital Footprint.” NSW Department of Education, www.digitalcitizenship.nsw.edu.au/articles/leaving-a-digital-footprint. Accessed 5 Nov. 2021.