In today’s digital age, screens are unavoidable, surrounding us in our daily lives. With the growing popularity of digital media comes the concept of the digital footprint, which is essentially the “mark” that someone leaves in the online world. Although most people are generally aware of the existence of their footprints, many remain uneducated about the benefits and hazards that are lurking behind them.
Digital footprints can be split into two different groups: active and passive. Active footprints consist of data that users share intentionally, such as posts, comments, interactions with other people, online purchases and subscriptions. Passive footprints, however, are taken from less thought-of data, such as browsing history, cookies and tracking technology that is hidden within third-party websites.
Anyone who owns an electronic device has an online presence. As someone engages with the many platforms the digital world has to offer, their footprint expands with it, which allows for many to be at risk of hidden dangers.
For example, data breaches expose personal information, leading to identity theft that affects millions of people each year. These breaches can have catastrophic consequences, putting an individual’s health insurance, credit ratings and other financial and personal information in danger.
In the professional aspect, a digital footprint could affect that, too. The way a person presents themselves online can influence the final decision regarding many things, such as college admissions or job opportunities. Many public places, such as schools and workplaces, often do frequent background checks on their students and employees, keeping everyone on their toes.
Now knowing how significant a digital footprint is, how can someone maintain a clean digital footprint? There are several steps one can take to minimize their footprint.
First, consider switching any social media accounts to private, limiting access to only close friends and family. Users should also be thinking thoroughly about what they are posting, and what effect it could have on them in the future. Another way to minimize a footprint is to find and delete any old accounts. Even if an account is inactive, it can still have a detrimental impact on one’s footprint.
Overall, it is important to be aware of how online actions can affect a digital footprint forever, not only for personal safety, but also to not hinder any special opportunities that may be affected.
By taking charge of their online presence, individuals can turn their digital footprint into a platform of success, rather than a barrier.
