Digital footprint

The trail of data a person leaves behind when using the internet is called their ______.

• Online imprint

• Digital reputation

• Technological history

• Digital footprint

Which of the following is included in a person's digital footprint?

• Email activity

• Search history

• Social media posts

• Location data

Answer explanation

These are all examples of data in a person's digital footprint, but they are far from the only examples.

Is it bad to have a digital footprint?

• Yes, it's a bad thing

• No, it's a good thing

• It depends

Answer explanation

Having a digital footprint is unavoidable these days- what matters is what is within yours, how it can be used, and by whom.

________ can use your digital footprint to target you with content they think will appeal to you.

• Followers

• Friends

• Advertisers

• Teachers

If someone posts a picture of you that you don't want to be online, which of these could help with the situation?

• Blocking them

• Asking them (nicely) to remove it

• Hiding it from your tagged posts

• Posting an unflattering picture of them

• Reporting the post

Answer explanation

While blocking them keeps them from contacting you (which can be useful in several circumstances), it does nothing to address the post or its effect on your digital footprint.

Asking someone to take down a post may not always work as you'd like, but not every upsetting post is made with malice. Give it a try!

In some cases, such as photos of you that you don't like the look of, simply hiding it from posts you are tagged in can easily relieve the stress.

Posting a photo of the other person is more likely to make the situation escalate and make both of you look bad.

If there is something seriously wrong with the post, or you are being repeatedly targeted, report them! Platform administrators are there to make all users feel safe and welcome.

Can you guarantee that something you are sharing online is temporary?

• Yes

• No

Answer explanation

There is no way to be absolutely certain that you are posting something that can be completely removed from the internet. Even Story posts and other timed content can be saved in others' screenshots and sent or kept locally, and platforms like Snapchat or Instagram often keep copies in their servers. It's important to remember the permanence of things we share.

Which of these are important considerations when making a social media post?

• Will it upset someone?

• Are you happy for it to exist forever?

• Is it funny?

• Do you look good in it?

• Will it reflect poorly on you or a friend?

Answer explanation

As tempting as it can be to share a picture just because it makes you laugh or you like how you look in it, if the other criteria aren't being met it's probably not a good idea to post.

As a privacy precaution, websites will often prompt you to accept a form of data from them, that you will exchange with them when using the platform. What is this data called?

• Secrets

• Easter Eggs

• Points

• Cookies

• Passwords