Digital skills for adults - Course 3 - English

Digital Footprint:

A digital footprint is a reflection of your personality and online personality. What do you want people to think of when they Google you?

A digital footprint – sometimes called a digital shadow or an electronic footprint – refers to the trail of data you leave when using the internet. It includes websites you visit, emails you send, and information you submit online. A digital footprint can be used to track a person’s online activities and devices. Internet users create their digital footprint either actively or passively.

Digital Footprint Examples:

• Making purchases from e-commerce websites.
• Signing up for coupons or creating an account.
• Downloading and using shopping apps.
• Registering for brand newsletters.
• Buying or selling online.
• Log in to other websites using your social media credentials.
• Sharing information, data, and photos with your connections on social media.
• Subscribing to an online news source.
• Using fitness trackers.
• Browsing history, even when you are on 'Incognito' mode.

How Digital Footprint Might Affect Your Future?

The digital footprint that is left behind can have repercussions in all areas of your life, potentially resulting in missed job opportunities, public sharing of personal information, ruined relationships.

“Previously, you would make your first impression with a handshake but in this digital age, and with remote working the norm, first impressions are made by whatever it is that a search engine chooses to serve up.

While some actions like posting an image are driven with intent, others – such as setting up an account with your personal details or searching on a website that collects data – happen in the background, so can easily be forgotten or dismissed as unconscious actions.

Given that zero online presence – commonly referred to as an online ghost – is similarly frowned upon by employers, the only real solution is to proactively manage your footprint by consciously presenting an image you’d be happy for current or prospective employers, colleagues or clients to see.

“These days it is a red flag if you have no online presence, so it is about controlling your digital footprint – not hiding it,”

According to a survey by Career Builder, around 54 per cent of employers discovered social media content that prevented them from hiring candidates. The top reasons usually range from inappropriate material, posting content involving alcohol and drug consumption, to discriminatory comments, lying about qualifications and poor communication skills.

While employers may be looking for reasons not to hire candidates, they are also seeking to know whether the individual for consideration has a professional online presence and any evidence that supports their qualifications as well as what others are posting about them.