Your digital footprint is the embodiment of all your internet activity. It’s best described as the trail of information you leave behind whenever you go online to browse, shop, post or chat. It includes both a visible trail, such as the things you willingly share and do online, and an invisible data trail, made up of your IP address and browser history, among others.
Assuming your digital footprint has no impact on your future endeavors, friendships and overall livelihood is a big mistake. Your digital footprint matters more than you know, and it is now crucial for every netizen to become aware of the digital breadcrumbs they leave behind, especially on social media.
A positive digital footprint signifies a good online reputation that lets you expand your social network and achieve your career goals.
Whenever you go online, you create a digital version of yourself. All your posts, photos, videos and comments can be accessed, shared or stored by other members of the community. So keep in mind, that at some point, someone will search for you online. It can be a future employer, a parent, a romantic partner, the police, a school, or even somebody who wants to harm you.
Projecting a positive online image of yourself can have many benefits, including:
Before we delve into the best ways to set up a positive online trail, let’s take a look at some of the preliminary steps to help you manage and protect your digital self:
Your trail can be one of your strongest assets or your biggest liability. For employers and recruiters, your social media profile stands as an unofficial cover letter to your resume. According to recent statistics, about 33% of all colleges research the digital footprints of applicants, and around 75% of recruiters are required by their companies to carry out online research on candidates.
Here are five steps to help you create a meaningful and positive online presence when surfing, blogging, tweeting or posting:
Remember, you’re the one controlling the amount of information you share online. So focus on positive content that can’t be misinterpreted or used against you.
Keeping tabs on all of your online accounts can be challenging and time-consuming. With Bitdefender’s Digital Identity Protection service, you can discover and curate the extent of your digital footprint so you can make more privacy-focused decisions to keep you, your online presence and your reputation safe.
Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection combs the web for your old accounts using only your email address and phone number. It allows you to analyze and manage your digital self, reducing the amount of data that can harm your online reputation and put your livelihood at risk.
You can find and delete old accounts, respond to data breaches and sniff out social media impersonators. Each revealed data entry, privacy risk or uncovered data breach comes with easy one-click action items. You can easily head off any security risks by immediately changing account passwords and making privacy adjustments on all of your accounts.
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Alina is a history buff passionate about cybersecurity and anything sci-fi, advocating Bitdefender technologies and solutions. She spends most of her time between her two feline friends and traveling.
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