Privacy+and+Digital+Footprints

Managing your Digital Identity.

Discussing and using digital environments in school (with minors, essentially) there are really TWO concerns. One is that you protect your private information (address, phone numbers, ID numbers, geographical location, medical information, financial/banking info, etc) from those that could make you a victim of anything from identity theft to stalking. The second concern is that you learn how to manage the "impression" of you presented by your digital footprint. There were several studies released in 2009 that estimated the number of prospective employers who use internet searches as part of their screening at numbers approaching 45%. That's bad news if the second hit for your name is compromising mobile phone pics tagged with your name on a friend's Facebook page. In looking for resources to discuss both of these concerns I ran across a lot of material that was so on the side of fear that you'd better turn off your electricity and go hide under your covers. I finally found a really balanced approach with tons of information for not only protecting what's private, but turning your digital footprints into positive reflections of your interests and abilities. The only problem is, the video is far too long for a study skills mini lesson. I've linked it here and I STRONGLY suggest you watch it, take notes, and really consider how your digital traces can effect your future.

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**Klout Scores** - a measure of "influence".
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[|http://www.howsociable.com/about#.VkP2gHarSM8]

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There are several good places to find information about online security as well, but I think the most straightforward and easy to understand/Index is Google's "Good to Know". (Of course, they've violated their own "privacy principles" as described here several times in the last year, so it's still your responsibility to know what's happening to information about you held by such services.) []

Digital Privacy...an oxymoron? media type="youtube" key="ISXaqSR8WMw" height="315" width="420"

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Just for fun...and a bit of enlightenment in some cases...try running your various names through Personas to get an idea of what's out there on the internet. Personas gives a graphic representation of everything that links to your name on the internet. Try putting in any usernames you routinely use as well. In my case, being old school from back in the days when nothing was suppose to connect to your real life name, most of what I've actually done on the web is connected to my username of nearly 18 years. (warning, this requires a specific aspect ratio to view...check your browser settings) []

You might also be interested in checking out your Facebooks "appropriateness score" to see what impression you're really making in social media. []