From the course: Working and Collaborating Online

Manage your digital footprint

From the course: Working and Collaborating Online

Manage your digital footprint

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- [Instructor] If you use the internet, you should be aware of your digital footprint. Just like physical footprints on a dirt path that show where someone has been walking, your digital footprint is the history of all of your online activity. Any social media posts you make, any websites you visit, and any information you share online contributes to your digital footprint. Now, your digital footprint isn't a single item, it's more of the impression and profile that people can build about you by viewing and following what you've done online across various websites and other online services. The thing to keep in mind is that once you post something online, you have no guarantee that it can be erased. If you post something on social media and then delete it from your account, other people may have already seen it, or they might have taken a screenshot of it. So the posts and activity that contribute to your digital footprint can last forever. Now, this can be a good thing if your digital footprint includes things that give you a positive reputation online and help you build your personal brand. Your online history can also help the apps you use to know more about you. They can use this information to serve you better by adjusting to the things you like and your daily habits. But they can also use this information in the wrong way and share it with others. Keep the following tips in mind when you go online to manage your digital footprint. First, know what your footprint says about you. People who search for you online will make judgements about you based on what they find. This can include employers when you apply for a job, or recruiters when you apply for academic programs. It's important to know what your digital footprint says about you and how your information is being used. To see what your personal brand is online, you can search for yourself. Search for your name in a search engine and see what results are displayed. If these results don't show you what you want, think about what you share online and what information you allow other people to see. Secondly, actively manage your privacy settings. You can modify the privacy settings of most of the social media sites and online applications you use. This can help you control who sees what you share and what information shows up when someone searches for you online. Third, manage your cookies. Cookies are notes given to your web browser as you browse the web. These cookies help apps track information that they need while you're using the app. This can help the app work better for you. But this data also contributes to your digital footprint as it allows other sites to gain information about the sites you visit and your interests. You can use the settings in your web browser to limit or block the use of cookies on certain websites. And fourth, think before you share. Behave like once you share something online, you can't take it back, because that's often the case. Make sure you're okay with something being part of your public persona before you share it because your digital footprint can live indefinitely online. So keep these tips in mind to make sure you're happy with your digital footprint and how it's used.

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