Digital Footprints Explored
Now that you have had a glance at your personal Digital Footprint, it is time to examine what they really are. While many of you may not have found a significant amount of information about yourselves, it does not mean it does not exists, nor does it mean it will not exist.
The clicks, the likes, the posts, the comments, the purchases that you made in the past, you make today, and you will make in the future will contribute to your digital footprint. You may not see the results immediately, but overtime as you continue to mindlessly click away, your footprint will continue to grow.
The clicks, the likes, the posts, the comments, the purchases that you made in the past, you make today, and you will make in the future will contribute to your digital footprint. You may not see the results immediately, but overtime as you continue to mindlessly click away, your footprint will continue to grow.
The Digital Footprint Defined
As you are now aware, a Digital Footprint is the online trail an individual leaves behind each time they access the internet on a computer or other electronic devices. It is created as they access a website, as they post an update on social media, as they like or comment on another's post.
These footprints are categorized into an Active Digital Footprint and a Passive Digital Footprint. Active digital footprints are trails in which individuals knowingly create and leave behind. They are the details traces of our identity that we share everyday, our social media updates, our online purchases for the newest pair of Nikes. Active digital footprints are the ones left behind when the individual user is logged into a site writing a post, making a comment, or changing their profile information. It is when the individual deliberately shares personal data about themselves in an online environment. Whereas, a passive digital footprint does not deliberately share information. The passive digital footprint is collected in without the awareness of the user knowing. Passive digital footprints are created in a variety of manners; they are often stored in an online database as a "click" or a "hit." This footprint is tracked by using the individual users IP address.
These footprints are categorized into an Active Digital Footprint and a Passive Digital Footprint. Active digital footprints are trails in which individuals knowingly create and leave behind. They are the details traces of our identity that we share everyday, our social media updates, our online purchases for the newest pair of Nikes. Active digital footprints are the ones left behind when the individual user is logged into a site writing a post, making a comment, or changing their profile information. It is when the individual deliberately shares personal data about themselves in an online environment. Whereas, a passive digital footprint does not deliberately share information. The passive digital footprint is collected in without the awareness of the user knowing. Passive digital footprints are created in a variety of manners; they are often stored in an online database as a "click" or a "hit." This footprint is tracked by using the individual users IP address.
How Our Digital Footprints Grow
Jill was 14 and in Grade 8when social networking sites began to gain popularity. At the time Jill was excited about this new environment and wanted to hangout online with her friends. She had created accounts and profiles for sites such as MySpace, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), The Facebook, and Orkut. These were all spaces she wanted to share her life and to keep in touch with her friends, and some family.
Nearly a decade later, at 23 years old and just finishing up her university degree, she could not even remember any of the login details of the profiles she had created years ago.
A week ago, she received an invitation to attend a job interview for a teaching position within the district she had been hoping for.
She was devastated that she was contacted by the Human Resource Manager of the district informing her that she was not awarded the position, based on some posts she had on her social media profiles from 5 or 6 years ago.
Unfortunately, this is a regular occurrence in the job market at all levels from retail to professionals. With the introduction of the internet and the lack of netiquette", like Jill, many individuals have damaged their reputation. Furthermore, they have also put themselves at risk of identity theft.
Nearly a decade later, at 23 years old and just finishing up her university degree, she could not even remember any of the login details of the profiles she had created years ago.
A week ago, she received an invitation to attend a job interview for a teaching position within the district she had been hoping for.
She was devastated that she was contacted by the Human Resource Manager of the district informing her that she was not awarded the position, based on some posts she had on her social media profiles from 5 or 6 years ago.
Unfortunately, this is a regular occurrence in the job market at all levels from retail to professionals. With the introduction of the internet and the lack of netiquette", like Jill, many individuals have damaged their reputation. Furthermore, they have also put themselves at risk of identity theft.
What Contributes to Our Digital Footprints
As alluded to above, not all digital footprints are created through the use of online social media sites. Below is a list of some of the contributing factors to our Digital Footprints.
Personal Information:
Personal Information:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Address
- Phone Number
- Photographs
- Emails sent
- Upload of documents and photographs
- Text Messages
- Clicks on websites
- Comments on Social Media Sites, YouTube Videos, and Blogs
- Data collected when you create and sign-up for services
- Internet providers
- Other sites which request our information/data to access a site