A digital footprint can also be referred to as a digital shadow or an electronic footprint (Kaspersky, 2023). The data that you leave when accessing and using the internet is what is referred to as a digital footprint and is used to track an individual’s online activities and electronic devices (Kaspersky, 2023). Websites that are visited, emails sent, information submitted online, thing that are posted on social media, subscribing to a newsletter, online shopping and reviews, and even by installing cookies on your device are all considered things that people partake in where their online activity is tracked (Kaspersky, 2023). There is a chance that your personal information or data can be compromised as organizations have the ability to sell or share your data with third parties (Kaspersky, 2023). This is important for not only teachers but especially students to understand when accessing online services or any sort of device. Having an understanding on how to protect yourself on the internet is something crucial to teach students at a young age. Some things we can do to protect ourselves and our students is to teach students to never share their passwords or personal information other than with their parents, sharing of location or if they are home alone without adult supervision (Kaspersky, 2023).
Something that worries me about social media being so accessible to children now is what they decide to post. To me, it is a breeding ground for online bullying or cyberbullying and as a teacher, we must learn to handle these situations as technology advances. Having a conversation with your class about what a digital footprint is I think is very important and probably should be done sooner than later as many children are on devices at an extremely young age and we can’t guarantee as teachers that their parents are teaching them about what a digital footprint is. Instilling these safety habits in our students at a young age will hopefully decrease the chances of them posting something, clicking something, sending something, or going onto a website that may but their safety at risk.
As a teacher, there will be use of computers in the classroom for certain activities. Having knowledge on digital footprints is crucial before introducing computers that have access to the internet. Going over proper protocol and safety measures is the first thing that should be discussed as a class. For me I would like to ask a general question to the class about what a digital footprint might be and follow by a more in-depth discussion with the class so students can get an exceptional understanding of the risks of using the internet.
Being aware of what a digital footprint is as an educator is crucial in today’s society. Protecting our students is a significant priority as an educator and part of this is having knowledge of digital footprints.
References
Kaspersky. (2023). What is a digital footprint? And how to protect it from hackers. Kaspersky. https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/definitions/what-is-a-digital-footprint