DESCRIPTION
The driving question for this week is ‘Will my digital footprint really last a lifetime?’. This article discusses the key theme of our internet use and how permanent it really is. For me, I believe this an extremely relevant topic to understand as technology is becoming our main form of communicating, working, studying and down-time use. A digital footprint is something that anyone who uses technology/internet creates unknowingly (Buchannan, 2017).
FEELINGS
My initial thoughts about this week’s driving question were that digital footprints do exist; however, I was unsure as to what extent. Having read the stimulus piece, it puts into perspective the severity of how much your digital footprint could impact you in future. I feel as though this is a topic that everyone who uses technology should be aware of and be educated on.
EVALUATION
The position that Rachel Buchanan takes is very informative and shows the importance of understanding digital footprints, in particular children (aged 10-12 years old). Buchanan used the help of a research study, in which she observed a group of 33 students, in grade 5 to 6. This was a great use of data as it proved that children don’t completely understand the impact a digital footprint can have on their future. Students, after concluding the study, mentioned and agreed that their behaviour online had changed (Buchannan, 2017). Another strength in this article was acknowledging the need to educate students before they become too exposed to the digital world. This allows for them to recognise the effect that certain actions could have later on. The only weakness in this article is the assumption that every person actually uses digital technologies. There are still some children who are not exposed to technology. I believe that this article was well researched and constructed to educate readers on the impact of a digital footprint.
ANALYSIS
Nowadays, it is difficult to avoid the use of technology and the internet. Therefore, it is an issue of great importance to understand the underlying effects of your own personal technology use. Whilst it may be done in the privacy of your own home, how private is your digital footprint? Buchannan in her article, definitely makes you question and think twice about how you use the internet, social media, games etc. Whilst Buchannan does a great job identifying how you can create a positive digital footprint, which she refers to as the ‘Best footprint forward project’, what can you do if you already have a digital footprint created? Well, Casey Fiesler discusses this exact problem in her article. Fiesler states that the best action to take is to make your digital footprint bigger, for example: create a personal webpage/linkedin. This way you have control over what you want people to know about you.
CONCLUSION
I believe the overall message that Buchannan was trying to make was the importance of understanding your digital footprint as early as possible. For her, she identified that the age range of 10 to 12 years old is when students are beginning to use technology. I agree that this would be the ideal age to educate students on digital footprints and internet etiquette.
ACTION PLAN
There are no denying digital footprints exist and in that it is next to impossible to completely erase your digital footprint. Therefore, it is important, especially in a profession such as teaching, to educate students around technology use. I believe the best course of action for this matter would be to supervise students regularly and assist them in understanding how they can positively impact their future through their internet use as well.
References
Buchanan, R., Southgate, E., Smith, S. P., Murray, T., & Noble, B. (2017). Post no photos, leave no trace: Children’s digital footprint management strategies. E-Learning and Digital Media, 14(5), 275–290. https://doi.org/10.1177/2042753017751711
Fiesler, C. (2019, January 23). If you’re worried about your digital footprint, don’t destroy it — make it better. Medium. https://cfiesler.medium.com/if-youre-worried-about-your-digital-footprint-don-t-destroy-it-make-it-better-cce67263c587
Leaving a digital footprint. (2019, January 21). Www.digitalcitizenship.nsw.edu.au. https://www.digitalcitizenship.nsw.edu.au/articles/leaving-a-digital-footprint#:~:text=Your%20digital%20footprint%20is%20the
Micheli, M., Lutz, C., & Buchi, M. (2018, June). (PDF) Digital Footprints: An Emerging Dimension of Digital Inequality. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325545146_Digital_Footprints_An_Emerging_Dimension_of_Digital_Inequality
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