Wondering what happens to our online activities? You might be wondering, what is a digital footprint?
A digital footprint is much like a footprint in the sand or mud; it follows behind us and shows where we have been. Unlike the sand, though, this digital footprint does not fade away. It is safe to assume we can forever trace anything we do online. Due to its complexity, to answer what leaving a digital footprint means, we first need to look at the different types.
There are two kinds of digital footprints: active and passive. We will relay an example of a digital footprint in more detail shortly.
A "passive digital footprint" is any data you leave online. The web server might log your Internet IP address when you visit a website. This identifies your Internet provider as well as your approximate location. Although your IP address can change, and may not contain any personal information at all, it is still part of your digital footprint. Your search history is a more personal part of your passive digital footprint. This search history is saved by certain search engines while logged in.
An "active digital footprint" is data you have intentionally submitted online. Your active digital footprint is created by sending an email. You expect that the data will be seen and/or stored by someone else. Your digital footprint will grow the more you send emails. Most people save their email online so the messages you send can be easily saved online for many years.
Understanding how a digital footprint is created and how to find one is essential in this tech-centric world. This article will explain just how to do that.
Understanding Your Digital Footprint
Your digital footprint is the trail of information you leave online. It includes everything from social media posts to search history. Every click, share, or purchase adds to it. Your digital footprint can be active or passive. Active footprints are created when you intentionally share information. Passive ones are formed by the data collected about you, often without your awareness.
In today's world, your online reputation matters. Employers, schools, and even potential clients may look you up online. A positive digital footprint can open doors. A negative one can close them. Managing it is not just important—it’s essential.
Examples of a Digital Footprint
Everything you do online leaves a mark, creating what's called a digital footprint. This includes the photos, videos, and updates you share on social media—even deleted posts might still exist in backups or screenshots. When you search for something on Google or other platforms, they track your searches to show you ads and learn about your habits.
Shopping online adds to this footprint by recording what you buy, your payment info, and even how you browse. Emails, texts, and private chats also leave behind traces, as many platforms store this data for a long time.
Mobile apps contribute too, often collecting details like your location, contacts, or device information. Websites you visit use cookies and trackers to monitor your activity, shaping how they show you content and ads. All of these interactions build up your online presence over time.
The Active vs. Passive Digital Footprint
Active digital footprints are straightforward. Posting a photo, sharing a blog, or commenting on a video creates one. You control the information you share. This is an opportunity to showcase your skills, values, and expertise.
Passive digital footprints are trickier. Websites track your visits. Apps collect your location data. Even your browsing history becomes part of your digital presence. Unlike active footprints, these are harder to control.
Both types shape your online image. Understanding the difference helps you manage your reputation.
How Your Digital Footprint is Created
Now that you know a digital footprint, let’s look at how it’s created. It is based on the information you supply to the Internet, such as your activity on search engines or what you post onto the Internet yourself.
Once again, the passive and active digital footprints have a lot of information on our digital footprints, such as IP addresses and websites we have visited, and active footprints such as the posts we put on social media and the purchases we make.
Knowing how this digital footprint is created will allow you to be aware of potential attacks against you if the wrong people acquire the wrong information.
If you put your personal information into an unprotected website, cyber-attacks may happen.
For example, if you buy something from a website you think is legitimate but it turns out to be a scam, your personal information, such as credit card information and personal address, may be stolen or compromised.
Internet safety is essential. With so many digital footprints created, changed, and updated daily, there are plenty of opportunities for our information to leak into the wrong hands.
Here are some things to never put onto the internet without ensuring a secure network:
- Social security number
- Password information for websites
- Client information (if you run a business)
Ensuring that these things are secure is essential for today’s world. Knowing what information to share is important.
Digital footprints are not all bad. Knowing what to share and whom to share it with is a skill that every person should learn today.
How to Find Your Digital Footprint
Finding your digital footprint can be as easy as doing a Google search with your first and last name. This will give you the basic information on what comes up if someone were to search your name, such as an employer.
However, more than a basic Google search will be required if you are worried about what is coming up on your digital footprint.
Here are some specific things to search if you are wondering about how to find your digital footprint:
- Search “first name last name@” to see what emails are associated with your name and what is publicly available for anyone to see with a quick search.
- Search “first name last name filetype:doc” to see what kind of documents include your name or identity. You can also switch out “doc” to “jpg” or “pdf” to see other variants of texts that may include your name.
You can also search specific data broker sites to see if your personal information is available online.
To stay safer, ensure you are looking for the newest online privacy updates when you set up your email or even your web browser. Usually, these updates allow you to obtain the most recent and best security features for the system.
To check your social media accounts because this is where the most information is given out these days, go to your settings and choose “privacy settings.” Make sure these are up to date with what you feel is necessary, whether that be a private or public profile or blocking certain information from being on your account.
How can your digital footprint affect your future opportunities?
It is easy to ruin your online reputation. A single bad tweet can ruin your career or your dream job.
Here are some examples of your digital footprint that can damage your reputation.
- Negative comments
- Bad reviews
- Non-consensual explicit or intimate personal image
- Public trolling
- Political debates
While most of the online harm you cause is your own, you can influence your online reputation by the actions of others on social media. This is a well-known avenue for intimidation and cyberbullying.
A recent survey found that 75% of Americans who performed a Google name search claimed the results were negative. Teens and young adults aged 16-24 are more cautious about what they post online than older adults. People of younger age tend to be less concerned about their online privacy and post more private videos or photos online.
You can affect someone's view or perspective about you and cause damage to friendships and romantic relationships. College admission officers will visit the applicant's social media profiles, including YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, to learn more about them.
77% of potential employers used Google search engines to screen candidates.
These employers removed a candidate from consideration because of information they found online.
Managing Your Digital Footprint
Start by taking control of what you can. Think before you post. Would you want your employer to see it? Would a client? If the answer is no, don’t share it.
Review your social media profiles. Make sure they align with your desired image. If necessary, set accounts to private. Delete old posts that no longer represent who you are.
For passive footprints, adjust your privacy settings. Most websites and apps let you limit data collection. Use tools like virtual private networks (VPNs) to mask your online activity. The less data companies collect, the smaller your passive footprint becomes.
Check and Audit Your Digital Footprint
Regularly audit your digital presence. Search for your name online. What comes up? Is it positive? Neutral? Negative? This step helps you understand how others see you.
Check social media platforms. Review tagged photos, old comments, and posts. Remove anything unprofessional or outdated.
Consider using online tools to monitor your digital footprint. These services can alert you to new information about you online. Staying informed is key to managing your reputation.
Tools and Services to Manage Your Digital Footprint
Managing your digital footprint doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by searching your name online to see what information about you is public. This simple step gives you a clear starting point for cleanup. Next, review the privacy settings on all your accounts. Adjust these settings to limit who can see your posts, photos, and personal details, ensuring your online presence aligns with your preferences.
Deleting old accounts is another effective way to reduce your digital exposure. Unused profiles often linger online, increasing your vulnerability. By removing them, you can minimize the data linked to your name. Strengthening account security is also essential. Use a password manager to create and store strong, unique passwords, making it harder for hackers to access your accounts.
To stay informed about new mentions of your name, consider using monitoring tools like Google Alerts. These services notify you when your name appears online, allowing you to address any issues quickly. For more comprehensive support, professional help is available.
NewReputation specialize in digital footprint management, offering services to remove harmful content, enhance your online image, and boost your privacy. With the right tools and strategies, you can take control of your digital presence.
How to Reduce Your Digital Footprint
Reducing your digital footprint doesn’t mean disappearing. It means being intentional. Share less. Use strong passwords to protect your accounts. Avoid oversharing personal details online.
Unsubscribe from unnecessary email lists and delete accounts you no longer use. Every inactive profile is a potential risk.
Think about how much information you provide to websites. Do they really need your full name, phone number, or address? If not, don’t give it.
FAQs About Digital Footprints
1. Can I erase my digital footprint?
Not entirely. Once data is online, it’s hard to remove completely. However, you can minimize it by deleting old accounts and harmful content.
2. How do companies use my digital footprint?
Companies analyze your data for marketing. They use it to show personalized ads or recommend products.
3. Is my digital footprint public?
Some parts are public, like social media posts or blog comments. Others, like search histories, are private but stored by companies.
4. Why should I care about my digital footprint?
Your digital footprint affects your reputation, privacy, and security. A clean footprint opens doors, while a messy one can cause problems.
5. How often should I check my digital footprint?
It’s good to review it every few months. This ensures you stay aware of new content and can address concerns quickly.
How NewReputation Can Help
Managing a digital footprint can be overwhelming. NewReputation makes it simple. We help individuals and businesses clean up their online presence, from removing negative content to enhancing their digital image.
Our team specializes in reputation management. We work with you to create a strategy. This includes auditing your footprint, removing harmful content, and building a positive online presence.
You don’t have to do it alone. With NewReputation, you get expert guidance. Protect your reputation. Build trust. Stand out for the right reasons.
Summing up
Although it is nearly impossible to delete your digital footprint, you should proactively manage it to ensure it does not negatively affect your reputation. You can take steps to manage the amount of information collected from you without your permission by using a VPN service.
We recently published an article to help you protect your online privacy.
Checking your digital footprint can become a part of your monthly internet routine. Frequent checks will make you feel safer and allow you to have more control over your digital footprint.
To learn more about how to protect your digital footprint, contact NewReputation today.
