A digital footprint is known as everything we do and say online creating a footprint of sorts. Someone may have already accessed, viewed or saved something that people think they may have delete from the Internet, social media sites, or any online mechanism, it does not mean it is gone. That means that just because you have deleted it, it does not mean it is gone. The person that accessed the information or image may have saved it and then decided to share it onwards.

Our digital footprint creates the basis of our online reputation, a reputation that others may access to assess whether or not we are trustworthy, reliable, likeable, etc. One needs to be very careful with their online reputation, as it is just as important as their offline one. 

There are many cons of having a digital footprint here are some examples of harmful digital footprints; 

1.     Identity Theft:

Any photo that is publicly shared is fair game for identity thieves so anyone is at risk especially perceptible teens. Posting personal information is a serious liability. Identity theft is on the rise and is a serious problem with very damaging consequences.

Personal data can be used to generate revenue without our knowledge

2.  Employers & Internships:

Employers will Google you. Even if it’s just a job you are applying for to make some extra money while going to college. Additionally college internships are now becoming a prerequisite for gaining employment post-college. Internships are competitive enough. The difference between your son or daughter and another applicant could be their digital footprint.

Purchase behavior data may be used as a basis to reduce credit limits or increase interest rates

1. Digital Access

Digital Access is about the equitable distribution of technology and online resources. Teachers and administrators need to be aware of their community and who may or may not have access, not only in school but at home as well. Educators need to provide options for lessons and data collection such as free access in the community or provide resources for the home.

• Digital Commerce

Digital commerce is thebuying and selling of goods and services using the Internet, mobile networks and commerce infrastructure.

It includes the marketing activities that support these transactions, including people, processes and technologies to execute the offering of development content, analytics, promotion, pricing, customer acquisition and retention, and customer experience at all touchpoints throughout the customer buying journey.

3 Digital Communication

Digital communication is a mode of communication where the information or the thought is encoded digitally as discreet signals and electronically transferred to the recipients. Digital communication is one of the most commonly used mode of communication in the current scenario. In digital communication information flows in a digital form and the source is generally the keyboard of the computer.

4 Digital Literacy

Is the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.

5 Digital Etiquette

Is integrity, or sense of self management, and general responsibility for your actions as well as yourself on the internet and treating people like you would in real life. Some basic digital etiquette would be like respecting others, following the rules of the website you’re using, or just being kind to others.

6 Digital Law

Is the legal rights and restrictions governing technology use. In today’s world, many people are not responsible digital citizens. They are criminals, breaking the law, either knowing or not knowing, what is appropriate or inappropriate technology use. 

7 Digital rights and responsibilities

Is having the right and freedom to use all types of digital technology while using the technology in an acceptable and appropriate manner. As a user of digital technology, you also have the right to privacy and the freedom of personal expression.

8 Digital Health and wellness

Refers to physical and psycho-social well-being in a technological world. Given the ever-increasing frequency with which students use technologies, particularly in their personal lives, health and wellness are areas that need to be addressed in the interest of developing well-balanced future citizens.

9 Digital Security

Is an all-encompassing term which includes the tools you can use to secure your identity, assets and technology in the online and mobile world. These tools you can use to protect your identity include anti-virus software, web service, biometrics and secure personal devices you carry with you everyday.

Q.1.2

Digital citizen refers to a person utilizing information technology in order to engage in society, politics, and government.

By being an active digital citizen one can be useful in helping to market organization (Facebook, Airbnb, Uber), besides marketing or promoting other organizations, digital citizen can also market their business. If a business needs to get a message around they should get it through digital citizens, in that way their message gets delivered by many people. Social capital can be enhanced if digital citizen shares and market organization accordingly and for the right reasons, if they have sufficient number of people and carry the message that needs to be carried out.

This platform can help increase social capital by communication, they could be an advantage to a person that knows how to sell a product and communicate effectively. Being respected through your communication with others online can build social capital which makes it easier to sell a product because the connection has been created. These platforms can help create a bond with the customer, trust, and safety and could give them citizen power among online citizen.

These platforms are diverse as they allow people to access data and information that could make citizens better citizens. This allow them to be better citizen socially and benefits them professionally and economically.

Digital citizen however has rights and responsibilities. The influence the way the society see a particular organization. Digital citizen should take up a normative forum, in which they engage with the rest of the community

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton