Kodak's Corner

Have you ever been told to be mindful of the things you say to others? The same applies to posting on social media. 

Over the years, the use of social media and the Internet have significantly increased. According to Statista, there are more than 3.6 billion social media users worldwide. 

With this increased usage has come lots of carelessness and irresponsibility of users. 

Though social media is a place most used for entertainment, potential employers, schools, and others can look at your social media to get a glimpse of who you are. If you don’t present a good image there, you’ll likely be looked over when it comes to employment and acceptance to schools, scholarships, and more 

Being aware of your digital footprint – a term defined by Tech Term as “a trail of data you create while using the Internet” that “includes the websites you visit, emails you send, and information you submit to online services” – and the impact that it can have on you and your future is an essential aspect of effectively using social media.

Digital footprint has been defined by Tech Term as “a trail of data you create while using the Internet” that “includes the websites you visit, emails you send, and information you submit to online services.” 

Knowing that your social media activity can be seen by many, it’s important to make sure you’re conveying a positive image of yourself. To ensure a positive digital footprint, take these three steps:

Think before you post

This probably seems obvious but it’s the first point for a reason. You’ve heard the saying “think before you speak.” The same applies to posting on your social media accounts. 

Before you post or share something that could later cause you trouble, pause and ask yourself if it’s appropriate. If it is appropriate, proceed with posting and sharing. If not, refrain from posting or sharing to save your future self a headache. 

A few seconds of contemplation may be the reason you land a potential job in the future.

Google yourself

No, you aren’t a celebrity and everyone isn’t searching for you on Google or social media. However, potential schools and employers may be. 

Searching your name and social media handles on search engines such as Google allows you to see what others will see when viewing your accounts. Googling yourself may reveal that some of your posts and accounts aren’t as private as you think. 

It’s better for you to run across these things versus a future employer. After finding public things on your socials and other platforms that you don’t want to be public, go into the setting of your account and individual posts and either delete or change the privacy settings. 

Check the privacy settings on your accounts

Have embarrassing or inappropriate photos of yourself posted by others online? Don’t worry, I think we’ve all been there. 

When it comes to personal information such as photos of friends and family, it’s okay to not want those things to be seen by everyone. That’s where adjusting your account privacy settings on different social media platforms comes in. 

By going into your settings, you’re able to allow your accounts to be public or private. You even have the option on platforms like Meta, previously known as Facebook, to adjust the privacy settings on individual posts.

Taking these small but incredibly useful tips will ensure that you’re mindful of your digital footprint and its impact. Happy Internet using!