DIGITAL FOOTPRINTS – WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND

Preparation
1. Do you think your privacy is important? Why/why not?
2. How can you keep private information private in the real world? And in the digital
world?
3. What do you think a "digital footprint" is?

Comprehension
Read the text. Answer these questions:
1. What is a digital footprint?
2. What kind of data about you is collected online?
3. What does it mean that "the things we post online are permanent"?
4. How can online posts and pictures spread?

Digital Footprints
Cecilie Husted, 0,9 ns

When you move around in cyberspace, you leave something behind – digital footprints.
But what are they, and why is it important to know about them?

A digital footprint is information about you and everything you do on the internet. It is
data about websites you visit, comments you post, pictures you share, videos you like,
emails you send, clothes you buy, maps you use, links you forward, forms you fill in and
search words you google.

Digital footprints can make life easier. For example, you do not have to type your
password each time you use Facebook because Facebook remembers it automatically.
When you use an online map, it knows your location and can guide you from there. But
your digital footprints are also used by companies to find out what you like and to make
money. Imagine you google a pair of shoes you like. When you visit other websites
afterwards, there are pictures of the shoes – and links to sites where you can buy them.

The internet remembers where you have been, and what you have done. Many of the
things we post online are permanent. A funny post or picture can come back years later.
Things on social media can be copied, pasted and sent to thousands of people in no time.
Something you send to a friend can be sent to a friend’s friend and so on. That’s how
secrets can be revealed, and (sometimes false) information can spread to classmates,
teachers, parents – and maybe even future employers.
Discussion
1. Have you checked your privacy settings on social media? If so, which privacy settings
do you think are important to know about? If not, why not?
2. Do you ever think about who sees/reads the things you post online? And do you know
all of your followers on social media?
3. What do you think companies can use information about you for?

Presentation
How many digital footprints are you leaving behind online?
How much can other people find out about you?

Google your name and see what comes up.

Present your findings in class.
Comment on what you would like your digital footprint to say about you.