A digital footprint is a “unique set of digital activities, actions, and communications that leave a data trace on the internet or on a computer or other digital device and can identify the particular user or device” (Digital Footprint, 2021.) In simplicity this means that any actions taken on a device that is connected to the internet in any ways creates a record of any and all interactions made on that device.
There are two types of digital footprints that can be created. An active digital footprint is any information that you purposely share about yourself while a passive digital footprint is unintentional information that is given about yourself and interactions. Passive digital footprints are IP address, location or search history (Christensson, 2014). and active digital footprints include emails, social media accounts, sharing posts, tweets pictures, and even likes. These two types of digital footprints are unavoidable as soon as entering the digital world. Every time someone signs up for an account, searches for a recipe, or sends an email a form of a digital footprint is created.
As the world continues to advance to more technological means, as educators we are responsible for teaching students how to be responsible when using the internet and the devices that can be connected to it. “Children are in constant online communication with their peers, creating new standards of behaviour and communication” (Buchanan, Southgate & Smith, 2019) meaning that we need to teach them the correct behaviours for being online. Since there are so many ways to  digitally communicate today, it is important for our students to be aware that anything they say could potentially be saved and used against them. Being that anything published on the internet can be interpreted in any way the viewer wishes means that what they publish can be taken out of context and used against them. Being aware of a digital footprint means being aware of what you send and publish because there is no guarantee that it will be removed or deleted (Christensson, 2014). By understanding the potential consequences of publishing something negative and that it stays in someones digital footprint can help teach students to make smart and meaningful posts and searches.
Having a digital footprint is unavoidable in this time and place, so educating ourselves and children as these technologies advance is critical in today’s age. By knowing that there are different types of footprints and that they will always be there once published online is only the beginning of understanding the importance of knowing about your own personal footprint. In these small advances to understand what a digital footprint is we can protect ourselves.
Buchanan, R., Southgate, E., & Smith, S.P. (2019, May 27th). “’The whole world’s watching really’: Parental and educator perspectives on managing children’s lives.” Global Studies of Children, 2(2), pp. 167-180. https://doi-org.prxy.lib.unbc.ca/10.1177/2043610619846351.
Christensson, P. (2014, May 26). Digital Footprint Definition. Tech Terms. https://techterms.com/definition/digital_footprint.
Digital Footprint. (2021). Dictionary.com. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/digital-footprint.
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