Creating a Positive and Safe Digital Footprint

Internet safety is important as it can reduce your digital footprint. This is important because what we post is out there forever. It can change what people think about you online and affect future opportunities. In some situations, being cautious with how we use social media can help us protect ourselves and others from possible threats. There are many activities some may do online that are considered unsafe. For example, oversharing information. Such as sharing your location when posting, sharing account information, and allowing everyone to see your content. Another example could be being too public. Like, creating a public profile, accepting friend requests from people you don’t know, and talking to random people online. There are several steps everyone can take to stay safe online. Some of those steps include creating a private profile, only accepting friend requests from people you know, limiting who can view and comment, managing who can send you a message, restricting location settings, and changing privacy settings. Remember, we are not bound to post every single moment of our life. 

Works Cited

Your Digital Footprint May Be Unflattering. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8C1a2z_cuQ. Accessed 24 Sept. 2022. 

Teen Voices: Oversharing and Your Digital Footprint. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ottnH427Fr8. Accessed 24 Sept. 2022. 

Snapchat Safety Tips. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKSTZGBDnD4. Accessed 24 Sept. 2022. 

A Guide to Staying Safe on Tik Tok. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D5nGeGmuNM. Accessed 24 Sept. 2022. 

 “How To Protect Your Digital Footprint.” Morgan Stanley, https://www.morganstanley.com/articles/digital-footprint-protection-strategies. Accessed 24 Sept. 2022. 

Personal/Social Competency Reflection

I value doing well in school. This includes getting grades that I’m happy with. These values inform my decision about how much social media I use in a day. I could spend less time on my screen so I can focus more on studying and homework. In addition, less screen time allows me to have more time to do some of my own interests. All this contributes to a healthier mindset. 

I know that my digital footprint can have both positive and negative consequences. These consequences can occur from something such as oversharing. Oversharing can attract a lot of attention and followers, which many may view as positive. It can also be a red flag for future employers which would be considered as a negative. I adjust my actions to not overshare but still post relatable content.  

My online support network is helpful to me because it provides a safe online environment. I can access information I know to be true from the library and Centennial school websites. I can also post personal work on Edublog without the risk of getting judged. If I feel unsafe, I can reach out to others in the support network.