1.2 First steps to a good digital footprint

If you are fairly new to life online, it is natural to feel cautious about what you disclose to others. On the other hand, you may be used to sharing quite freely without giving it much thought. By learning a bit more about how to manage your digital footprint, you will be better equipped to stay in control of the information about you that others can see online.

Being in control of your own information is becoming more and more important when applying for jobs. Many employers look at the digital profile of prospective employees and the recruitment process itself increasingly takes place online. In the UK one blog author suggests that 89% of recruiters have hired someone through LinkedIn, and that 73% of 18 to 34-year-olds found their last job through a social network (Medved, 2014).

In real life, you probably behave differently with your friends and family than you do at work. Online it’s important to think about the image you are projecting to others and who might be reading what you put there. The following activity will help you to see the sort of information that can show up in someone’s digital footprint.

In the next section, you will think further about how you can learn online and interact with others while maintaining your privacy.