Digital Footprints and Online Reputation are a history of everything you or others have posted about you on the internet, as well as the data that is collected and how this information may inform others perceptions about you both now and into the future.
Young people have likely heard of a digital footprint however, may not always anticipate or consider the implications of sharing or oversharing personal information. Content that comprises a person’s digital footprint can include both active and passive information.
Active information is information voluntarily shared that forms part of a person’s digital footprint. This may include the sharing of names, phone numbers, birthdays, addresses or personal interests.
Passive digital footprints are primarily created through cookies, which track data such as the locations a person visits on the internet and create a profile about them. Cookies are usually used to send targeted ads to users online and can at times create risks for young people who do not fully understand or recognise how their information has been used or shared.
Both active and passive information can have a significant impact on young people and their futures. When a digital footprint is poor, it can impact employment, relationships, or bring on feelings of shame or regret. Alternatively, a positive digital footprint can significantly help a young person progress and achieve their individual goals in life. The trick is knowing what people can see about you and taking steps to ensure they see the best version of you.
This Online Safety Training is a joint initiative between Interaction and ySafe and has been made possible by funding from the eSafety Commissioner's Online Safety Grants program.