“A digital footprint is a trail of data you create while using the Internet. It includes the websites you visit, emails you send, and information you submit to online services” (Digital Footprint, n.d., p. 1). It is like the breadcrumbs along the trail that you walk in the land of the internet. So, why does it matter?

Firstly, I must point out that there are passive and active digital footprints. The passive digital footprint “is a data trail you unintentionally leave online. For example, when you visit a website, the web server may log your IP address, which identifies your Internet service provider and your approximate location” (Digital Footprint, n.d., p. 1). The active digital footprint “includes data that you intentionally submit online” (Digital Footprint, n.d., p. 1). As you might assume, both the passive and the active digital footprint is important to consider, especially in light of new research and law-making (Weaver & Gahegan, 2007). Public privacy acts are important to how safe and secure we feel about our online lives today (Weaver & Gahegan, 2007). As Weaver & Gahegan (2007) state, “[d]iscourses abound on all sides of the debates between the desire for new technology, the right to privacy, and the need for security” (p. 347).

The important thing to remember is that we have the power to influence how large or small our digital footprint is. Although there are arguments to be made for a larger digital footprint, especially for new working professionals, such as educators (Hewson, 2013), there are also reasons to maintain a moderate digital footprint. Personal safety, security, and sense of privacy in an online life is important. Oversharing on social media is arguably becoming an issue, as younger and younger people are becoming digitally literate. (Please see my blogs on Digital Literacy and Digital Citizenship). That being said, having no online presence today can potentially limit your career. For instance, prospective employers will likely want to see a new educator’s e-portfolio and other online contributions (twitter, and other social media). These future employers may prefer a candidate that has a respectable online presence and digital footprint over another candidate with no online presence.

Certainly, as the world becomes increasingly digitalized, we have a responsibility to conduct ourselves with digital citizenship and maintain our digital literacy. As with many parts of life, it is wise to regard our digital footprints’ size with caution. Not too big, not too small, juuuuust … right?

References

Digital Footprint. (n.d.). Retrieved January 21, 2021, from https://techterms.com/definition/digital_footprint#:~:text=A%20digital%20footprint%20is%20a,trail%20you%20unintentionally%20leave%20online

Hewson, K. (2013). What size is your digital footprint? The Phi Delta Kappan, 94(7), 14-17. Retrieved January 21, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23611689

Weaver, S., & Gahegan, M. (2007). Constructing, Visualizing, and Analyzing a Digital Footprint. Geographical Review, 97(3), 324-350. Retrieved January 21, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/30034175