consequences of digital footprint
have you ever thought about the consequences of a rude comment, bad tweet, or that drunken photo you were tagged in years ago?
The marks we leave online can come back to haunt us. Unlike a positive digital footprint that helps solidify a good online reputation, a negative digital trail can cost you opportunities in all areas of life.
How users create negative digital footprints
Ruining your online reputation is easier than you think. It only takes a single viral bad tweet to end your career, or irresponsible onscreen behavior to ruin your college application or dream job.
Your community, friends, family and even your boss can potentially see everything you share or do online. Negative comments, reviews, lewd pictures and trolling can harm you and your family’s reputation no matter how long ago the actions took place.
Although much of this online harm is self-inflicted, your online reputation is also influenced by the actions of other digital citizens you interact with on social media – a notorious avenue of intimidation and cyber-bullying
Impact of negative digital footprints
Poor online choices can bring damaging consequences in the real world, including:
- Affect someone’s opinion or perspective of you, and ruin friendships and romantic relationships
- Impact your college admissions - college admissions officers visit an applicant’s social media profile including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube to learn more about them
- Ruin your scholarship opportunities – any distasteful material or immature posts could prevent you or your child from getting one
- Affect your chances of
getting a job or promotion – employers often search online for
candidates applying for a position in the company, and a messy digital
footprint could cost you that position you were hoping for.
how a negative digital footprint can affect your life
benefits of a digital footprint
Managing or reducing your digital footprint can be important, but there are many benefits of having one, including:
Creating a positive online reputation
A digital footprint may help you develop a positive reputation online. For instance, when someone searches for you in a search engine using your name, the search results may list positive references about you. This can help you when seeking new professional positions or when developing an online brand.
Raising awareness
When people are aware of your online presence, they may be more likely to read what you write on websites or social media sites. The content you post can create awareness about your company or provide information to potential customers about your products and services. For example, if you are a chef, you may post recipes or food illustrations on your social media profiles.
Building relationships
Having
an online presence can help you build relationships with others. For
example, if you are looking for funding to start your own business, your
digital footprint may help investors find you and see the benefits of
investing in your project. If you are an artist, having a presence
online can help people find out about your work.
Gaining fame
Having a digital footprint can help you gain fame and popularity. For example, you may want to become a blogger and build an audience through your website content or social media updates. You may also use your digital presence as an avenue to promote yourself, such as your work as an artist or musician.
Earning money
If you have a blog, you can use it as a channel to earn money online through advertisements and affiliate programs. If you own an online shop, then you can sell products using this type of platform. A digital footprint can help you generate both personal and business income if you use it effectively.
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