What Digital Footprint Are You Leaving Behind?
Have you ever Googled yourself? You might be surprised by the search results. Your digital footprint is the record left by everything you’ve done online — social media activity, info on a personal or work website, browsing history, online subscriptions and any photo galleries and videos you’ve uploaded — essentially, anything online with your name on it that can be found and tracked by others.
What does that mean exactly? You should probably think twice before doing or posting anything online that you do not want the entire world to know about you.
Are You a Good Digital Citizen?
A good digital citizen protects their personal information, uses good judgment and treats others with respect. Whether you’re posting on social media, sending an email or commenting on an online discussion, practicing good digital citizenship makes our online world a more welcoming place for everyone.
Protect Your Privacy
The first step to becoming a smarter digital citizen is learning how to protect your privacy and create a safer, more positive online environment.
1. Don’t overshare online. Assume everything you post can be seen and shared by others.
2. Pick strong passwords. Use a different password for every social media account. Consider using two-factor or multi-factor authentication if offered.
3. Use privacy settings. Look for the security or privacy settings in the social media app or on the website (see highlight box below). Restrict your entire account to only approved friends or followers. Activate settings that prevent your profile from being publicly searched.
4. Limit personal information. Information like your birthdate (especially the year), phone number and address do not need to be included on your profile.
5. Monitor your location settings. Disable location services inside an app or mobile device settings when you do not need to share your location.
6. Only friend or follow those who you know in person. Don’t accept friend or follow requests from strangers.
7. Manage third-party apps. If you use your social media account to log in to other sites or allow apps to access your account, regularly review and de-authorize those that no longer need access.
Don't Feed the Trolls
Online harassment has become a common occurrence in the digital lives of many Americans. Harassers, also known as “trolls,” often target a personal or physical characteristic: politics, physical appearance, race, ethnicity or gender. For those who experience online harassment directly, there can be profound effects, ranging from mental or emotional distress to reputational damage or even fear for one’s personal safety.
In addition to creating a negative environment online, harassment can also compromise users’ privacy, force them to choose when and where to participate online and even make them censor what they say. What can be done about it? Below are a few of the most recommended tactics for dealing with trolls:
IGNORE THEM
They want to get a reaction out of you. They want attention. If you refuse to engage with a troll, they may go away.
BLOCK THEM
Use options for blocking and muting obnoxious and harassing people on social media by searching the online help of the service.
REPORT THEM
Find out about the service’s user policies and the best ways to report harassing behavior.
DON'T BECOME ONE
Amid heated conversations, it can become very easy to step outside our own code of ethics online and join in the chaos. However, it is much wiser to step away from the situation to not only think first, but to also avoid any regrets in posting something outside of your own character.