NET NEUTRALITY AND DIGITAL FOOTPRINT 1

Net Neutrality and Digital Footprint

Jerrica M. Stelly

Lamar University
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Net Neutrality and Digital Footprint

Most networks have privacy settings that can be managed through that service’s settings.

It’s important that privacy settings be managed, for the mismanagement of privacy settings can

negatively impact digital footprints. A digital footprint or digital tattoo is the data that you leave

on the internet and the information that other people imprint on you through internet mediums

like social media (Tech Terms, 2020). Therefore, if you are privileged to have access to an open

Internet connection, a digital footprint must be managed and strategically utilized.

Due to the repeal of net neutrality, open Internet connection is considered a privilege to

those who can afford it. Most public educational institutions are filled with students that are

socioeconomically disadvantaged. Therefore, digital access is limited. This limited digital access

causes learning gaps that must close immediately. These gaps can be closed through state and

federal funding and make WiFi a public utility (Hernandez, 2020). Net neutrality means that

users should be able to use their bandwidth however they want (as long as it’s legal), and internet

service providers should not be able to provide priority service (Marshall Data, 2014). Net

neutrality is vital to the public educational system. For example, students without an open

Internet, might be blocked from accessing resources that compete with content offered by their

ISP (Long, 2015). Furthermore, these students will only access bias material and will face other

restrictions regarding content that they can post. Students will be constantly redirected to content

favored by their ISP and limited to all other useful resources. However, once students are able to

access the internet, with reasonable restrictions, students must be taught about their digital

footprint. 

There are two types of digital footprints such as: intentional and unintentional digital

good prints. An intentional digital footprint requires thought before posting (Education, 2014),
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setting parameters for what is posted about ourselves, and posting in a proactive manner

(Kuropatwa, 2014). In contrast, an unintentional digital footprint is the data we leave regarding

what we do on the internet and that data may be saved online with cookies (Reveal, 2013). In

addition, an unintentional digital footprint is also when someone may share something regarding

you that you did not approve or were aware of (FriendlyScreens, 2011). Therefore, it is best to

monitor all types of digital footprints by taking preventive measures. The preventive measures

are strategies of the “golden rule,” “posting with positive intent of impact” and choosing private

settings on account (Still, 2020). This golden rule must be taught to students, so they will make

little to no mistakes as people in the past did unknowingly. 

Once students are informed and have had practice making positive digital footprints,

more digital citizens will be produced. For example, an e-portfolio is a great way for students to

post positive content about themselves. Their e-portfolio can be filled with their achievements

and community/school pride. 

It’s imperative the students have digital access and are taught about digital footprints to

avoid falling behind academically and ruining the digital images. Therefore, educators must

ensure students have access to an open Internet connection and are taught that digital footprints

must be manage and strategically utilized.

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References:

An introduction to net neutrality. (2014) Retrieved from 

http://www.marshalldata.com/2014/05/an-introduction-to-net-neutrality-what-it-is-what-
it-means-for-you-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/ (Note: This is an introduction before the
FCCs ruling)
 
Digital footprint. (2020). Tech Terms. https://techterms.com/definition/digital_footprint

Education, C. S. (Director). (2014). Oversharing: think before you post [Youtube]. Retrieved 
from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyjd73tUXig 

FriendlyScreens (Director). (2011). Do you really have a private life online?  [Youtube]. 
Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e98hxHZiTg 

Hernandez, V. (2020). EDLD 5316 Digital Citizenship Week 2. Lamar University. Beaumont : 
Texas State

Kuropatwa, D. (Director). (2014). The internet extends and amputates our senses [Youtube]. 
Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWyxWyLoUsQ

Long, C. (2015). What net neutrality means for students and Educators. Retrieved from 
http://neatoday.org/2015/03/11/net-neutrality-means-students-educators/ 

Reveal (Director). (2013). Hot on your trail: privacy, you data and who has access to it.
[Youtube]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/bqWuioPHz0 

Still, M. (2020). EDLD 5316 Digital Citizenship Week 2. Lamar University. Beaumont : 
Texas State