Digital Footprints
As we move more and more into the digital world,
we leave behind digital footprints.
we leave behind digital footprints.
Learning Objectives:
- Reflect on the concept of online identities and digital footprints and what it means for you as a student.
- Identify strategies for protecting your digital identity
- Manage your Social Media Identity
Essential Question
How do I use Social Media and how does it impact my use of technology?
Identity
Identity encompasses the way we think about ourselves and our role in larger social environments; identity is enacted through social interactions with others and our relationships with them.
Along one continuum, identity can be understood as containing both individual, personal differentiators (such as one’s personal history) as well as components related to one’s role in social groups, such as the way we interact with others in online communities.
A second spectrum for understanding identity concerns the character of the attributes we associate with an individual. Identity characteristics can be written on the body, such as gender or ethnicity, or are elective, such as our chosen political affiliations. How we see ourselves and our role in the larger social environment can have consequences for how we behave, what we believe, and who we affiliate with.
Online information and communication technologies have the potential to shape identity processes in meaningful ways, it is important to consider the identity implications of social media practices as well as the role of Digital Literacy.
View the video- Even though this video is talking about adults it can give us an idea of what could happen in the next 10 years for you.
What does your online image project about you?
Along one continuum, identity can be understood as containing both individual, personal differentiators (such as one’s personal history) as well as components related to one’s role in social groups, such as the way we interact with others in online communities.
A second spectrum for understanding identity concerns the character of the attributes we associate with an individual. Identity characteristics can be written on the body, such as gender or ethnicity, or are elective, such as our chosen political affiliations. How we see ourselves and our role in the larger social environment can have consequences for how we behave, what we believe, and who we affiliate with.
Online information and communication technologies have the potential to shape identity processes in meaningful ways, it is important to consider the identity implications of social media practices as well as the role of Digital Literacy.
View the video- Even though this video is talking about adults it can give us an idea of what could happen in the next 10 years for you.
What does your online image project about you?
Social Media
Social media such as social network sites, blogs, wikis, and online discussion forums contain a set of social and technical tools of expression that have the potential to affect identity – to reshape how individuals view themselves and others.
These tools of expression include the ability to engage in selective self-presentation when presenting identity, the ability to enact multiple identities in online settings simultaneously, and issues of data, computation and identity.
Tools of expression allow individuals to declare "who they are". Profiles in Google, Facebook, and other social networking services are used to present ourselves to others. By making our interests (and identity) explicit, others are able to "discover" us. Transparency and discoverability are critical foundations for forming social and learning networks.
Tools of presence allow individuals to declare "what they are doing". This is noticed in Skype (the online status indicator), Twitter, and instant messaging. These tools are effective in letting others know where you are and how accessible you are.
These tools of expression include the ability to engage in selective self-presentation when presenting identity, the ability to enact multiple identities in online settings simultaneously, and issues of data, computation and identity.
Tools of expression allow individuals to declare "who they are". Profiles in Google, Facebook, and other social networking services are used to present ourselves to others. By making our interests (and identity) explicit, others are able to "discover" us. Transparency and discoverability are critical foundations for forming social and learning networks.
Tools of presence allow individuals to declare "what they are doing". This is noticed in Skype (the online status indicator), Twitter, and instant messaging. These tools are effective in letting others know where you are and how accessible you are.
Digital Footprint
Your social media identity—all the photos, videos and words about you that have been posted online by you or your friends, family and co-workers—tells people a lot about you, and that can have a big impact on your career and professional reputation, now and in the future.
Your 3 Part Digital Footprint-
People need to be aware of all parts of their digital footprints. Here are some questions to ask before signing up for another social media tool
When it comes down to it, we should each be treating ourselves–and our data–like a brand with value we cherish and respect–and ask others to do the same.
- Your ‘active digital footprint’–content you voluntarily share & post.
- Your ‘passive digital footprint’- information collected about you. For example, when you login to a computer at work or school, that system is collecting data about you and has the potential to collect lots of behavioural data–like paths you have taken through content, etc. You don’t actively share that information as you would do in the case of posting an update in a timeline. This is how companies like Amazon make suggestions for you.
- Your ‘second-hand footprint’- content about you that others post and share about you–with or without your knowledge.
People need to be aware of all parts of their digital footprints. Here are some questions to ask before signing up for another social media tool
- What do they get from me in the way of value? (i.e. personal information)
- What will they do with the information?
- How do these services that are free & social make a profit?
When it comes down to it, we should each be treating ourselves–and our data–like a brand with value we cherish and respect–and ask others to do the same.
Activity One- Discovering
Take a minute and “google” yourself and see what you can find. Start in the obvious way and just Google yourself by typing your name into Google’s search box in whatever way(s) someone doing a search about you might i.e. John Smith, teacher. Take a look at what you see.
Fill in the Digital Footprint handout.
Fill in the Digital Footprint handout.