Every search result is a product of your digital life. Once you post something online, it's hard to remove... it may be there well into your second or third career. Those pictures from your 21st birthday party, you know, the really funny ones? They aren't so funny when you get turned downed for a job because a prospective employer found them.
Things that you never expected to see could appear. Maybe you played sports in high school; your stats could show up. Or maybe you were quoted in a newspaper article, and that could appear. Or, even more horrifying, your parents could have posted pictures of you when you were young on a site they use to talk to old high school buddies. You never know what could show up, so be wary of what you put out there.
Did you ever think about how often your face is captured on video in a store? Or what about speed and red light cameras? Do you really want to be associated with breaking traffic laws? You leave a digital footprint wherever you go, whether you notice it or not.
According to Pew Research, "Most internet users are not sure exactly what personal information is available online:
- Roughly one third of internet users say the following pieces of information are available online: their email address, home address, home phone number, or their employer. One quarter to one third of internet users say they do not know if those data points are available online.
- One quarter of internet users say a photo, names of groups they belong to, or things they have written that have their name on them appear online.
- Few internet users say their political affiliation, cell phone number, or videos of them appear online."
Food for thought:
We live in a technology-centered world, and because of that, digital footprints are becoming increasingly important. So who is responsible for educating the masses? Should there be a class in school? Is it parents' responsibility?
We live in a technology-centered world, and because of that, digital footprints are becoming increasingly important. So who is responsible for educating the masses? Should there be a class in school? Is it parents' responsibility?
Source:
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/663/digital-footprints
