By now we all know what a digital footprint is, we have been told our whole lives that it will affect us when we get older. I was told when I was younger to watch what I post as it may affect me getting a job someday. I would like to think my digital footprint is not very concerning, but who knows what is out there! I have had social media since I was 13. That’s a lot of posting! When we looked ourselves up in class the other night, I saw myself in my towns paper for honour roll, volleyball and musicals. There were also Volleyball Manitoba records from the teams I played on and when I participated in the All-Star Banquet. This result was pretty good if I do say so myself! None of my social media pictures or accounts came up. I feel like even of they did, not much would come up as they are all on privacy settings. But, like I said who knows what is out there.
I think practicing having a good digital footprint is so important in this day and age, especially while being a teacher. Having a student’s parent look you up online just to see negative comments or posts with alcohol may be alarming for parents, and employers. Even if they were from a while ago, parents want to be ensured that the person their child is spending their days with is going to be a good influence on them. Modelling good behaviour online is a way to be that good influence. We know they are going to use the internet, so we have to teach them how to do so safely.
As for the right to have elements of our digital footprints forgotten, I believe this is valid on some cases, but not others. In times where I feel that this is good, is when someone deletes an embarrassing post and have it be gone from the internet for good. Even a post where alcohol is present should be able to be forgotten with no consequences, especially one from a while ago. Friends post things of us that we may not necessarily want out there. Having the option to have it wiped from our footprint is so valid I think. I feel that there are certain things that should stay out there, such as a criminal record. This is important for future employers to know about you in my opinion, especially when working with children. Bullying comments on the internet are another thing that I feel should be a little harder to wipe because in some cases they may show your true colours. But that’s just my opinion I guess! Let me know what you think.