The Digital Footprint and the Journey

I searched my name for the first time on Google and was startled by what I found. I then frantically started to scroll to make sure that I only had images and information that was appropriate. I found my Twitter profile and a video of me being interview my CK-12 Foundation- where I had been using the Chemistry Flexbook textbook I had co-written in a lesson. I had never seen the video. I had seen a clip, but never in it's entirety. I was please to say after my investigation that my effort to limit my personal life on the internet had worked. On a scale from 4-1 (4 – advanced, 3 – proficient, 2 – developing, 1 – emerging), I rated myself as a 2. My digital footprint is something I am proud of and comfortable with it being viewed by your employer (and grandmother). If we think back to the time, we first started using Social media, making online purchases, and other electronic/virtual activities, we may not have been so careful about the information we posted. Our digital footprint began back then. Where have we been since then? We have shared recipes on Pinterest, professional accomplishments on Twitter, and shared pictures of our families. America's students have hit the ground running on this digital journey. It is our responsibility as a digital community, to educate our students on how to make wise decisions. According to the Family Online Safety Institute (2020), we should check in with our students about their use and participation in social media. The Digital Reputation Checklist suggests that we do the following:

• Type your name in different kinds of search engines and look through videos, images, etc.

• Remove posts and tags that are not suitable.

• Look over your friends list and see who follows you. Block or unfollow people you no longer speak to.

• Change your privacy settings to private.

• Take time before you post and question the impact it may have on your life in the future.

• Keep your posts and social interactions positive and not so personal (FOSI, 2020).

A survey conducted by the Pew Research (2015) provided information about the way adults felt about their privacy, security, surveillance. This is important to know because it explains how the average adult deals with their digital footprint. Adults have provided information to various companies since their services came about. Only 6% of the adults say that they trust that landlines keep their information confidential. 9% say they are confident that credit card companies are doing the same. 10% of adults think that the information on social media will remain private, yet people are not taking the proper precautions (Madden & Raine, 2015). If adults have such little confidence that companies will protect us, then more should be done to help our students keep clean digital footprint. Modeling and coaching our students to have a clean, positive, and appropriate journey, whether it is public or not, is the safest way to ensure that their reputation will not be questioned.

Sources

Family Online Safety Institute. (2020). The digital reputation checklist. FOSI: Good Digital Parenting. Retrieved from https://www.fosi.org/good-digital-parenting/digital-reputation-checklist/

Madden, M., & Raine, L. (2015). Americans' attitudes about privacy, security and survellance. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/05/20/americans-attitudes-about-privacy-security-and-surveillance/