Your+Digital+Footprint



Digital footprint


One of the great things about being online is the ability to share videos and photos with your friends and seeing their response.

Your digital footprint (reputation) is defined by your behaviours in the online environment and by the content that you post about yourself and others.
Tagged photos, blog posts and social networking interactions will all shape how you are perceived by others online and offline, now and in the future.

A poor digital reputation can affect your friendships, relationships and even your job prospects - so protect your digital reputation.

How do I protect my digital footprint (reputation)?

 * **Keeping your personal details private.** Use a nickname instead of your real name and always ask your parents before giving out your name, address or phone number online.
 * **Not sharing** your username or password with anyone.
 * **Thinking** before you post. Once posted, it can be difficult to remove.
 * **Not posting things that** you don't want others to know about or that you wouldn’t say to their face.
 * **Being respectful** of other people’s content that you post or share. For example, a photo that your friend took is their property, not yours. You should post it online only if you have their permission.
 * **Think** before you post, send or blog!
 * Treat others as you would like to be treated.
 * Set your **profile to private**—and check every now and then to make sure the settings haven’t changed.
 * Keep an eye on photos tagged by your friends and remove ones that are offensive.

Remember, online information could be there forever. Your personal information may end up being seen by people you don’t know, including potential employers.