Digital Footprint

TeachThought (2019) defines a digital footprint as “the record or trail left by thing you do online,” including everything from your social media profiles, to any websites in your name, to your browsing history, to websites you’ve subscribed to, to pictures and videos you’ve uploaded or been tagged in.  “Essentially, [your digital footprint is] anything on the internet with your name in it” (TeachThought, 2019).  Anything that you have ever attached your name to and anything anyone else has attached your name to are included in your digital footprint (Ericksen, 2018).  With a simple Google search, so much of your digital footprint is readily available to be found.

The potential pros and cons of having a digital footprint are essentially wrapped up together.  Your digital footprint is so tied to your public image today that “Googling is now a central part of the hiring process” (Ericksen, 2018).  Like checking references and calling past employers, checking the digital footprints of potential candidates had become a normal part of background checks, so making sure you have a good, clean digital footprint is so important (Reyes, 2021).  While a good digital footprint is an asset, a bad one could potentially cost you an opportunity.  In a survey done by Reyes (2021), 77% of employers use Google searches as part of their screening process, and 35% of those employers admit to “eliminating candidates based on info found online”.  Elements of a bad digital footprint that could harm you include “leaked confidential information, …writing prejudiced posts, …sharing inappropriate content, [and] complaining about an employer or client” (Reyes, 2021).  Not only could having any of these elements in your digital footprint prevent you from getting hired in the first place, but they could lead to your termination as well.  On the opposite side, “when they’re done right, a digital footprint can provide you with a great first impression” (Ericksen, 2018).  If the person searching your footprint likes what they see, they can be more likely to choose you for the opportunity, or even to remember you for future opportunities (Ericksen, 2018).

Making sure your digital footprint is a positive one is so important in today’s world, and there are plenty of ways in which you can manage your footprint.  The first step is to Google yourself.  This gives you an idea of what others would see if they were to Google you.  From there, you will be able to tell if there is anything potentially problematic that comes up, and you can go about fixing or removing that (Ericksen, 2018).  From there, privacy settings are your next step.  “[Putting] all of [your] social media accounts, including Facebook, on a short leash might be the most important step toward helping…manage [your] digital footprint” (TeachThought, 2019).  Privacy settings are typically easy to access and change, and allow you to decide who is allowed to see the content that you post on that site.  With, for example, a private Instagram account, only people you have pre-approved to follow can see what you post, and a potential employer would not be able to use the info you post on the site in the screening process (Ericksen, 2018).  Another suggestion would be to use different email addresses for your personal accounts versus your business accounts.  Hiring managers can also search your email address and find any accounts or subscriptions attached to it (Reyes, 2021).  If anything you wouldn’t want your boss to see is connected to a different email, that is one further step in protecting your privacy.

References:

Ericksen, K. (2018, May 16). Your Digital Footprint: What Is It and How Can You Manage It? Rasmussen College. https://www.rasmussen.edu/student-experience/college-life/what-is-digital-footprint/

Reyes, N. (2021, January 23). What is a digital footprint? Reputation X. https://blog.reputationx.com/digital-footprint

TeachThought Staff (2019, May 10). 12 Tips For Students To Manage Their Digital Footprints. TeachThought. https://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/11-tips-for-students-tomanage-their-digital-footprints/