Digital Footpints and Online Identity

The short video animation Digital Footprint from Common Sense Media's Digital Citizenship curriculum  illustrates how our participation in digital life creates information about us online. Much of this information can be viewed by others, copied,  and passed on to other people. Sometimes the information can permanent or very difficult to remove.

Think about the information that you share about yourself when you participate in digital life.   Think about all of the people who might be able to view the information about you that is published online.  This information can make up what is often called your "online identity" or your "digital reputation".

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Add a comment to this post in which you respond to these prompts:

• Describe some of the kinds of information that can positively shape a person's online identity or digital reputation.
• Explain some things that might have a negative influence on a person's digital reputation. 
• What can you do to maintain a positive online identity?

Please write your comments in complete sentences with appropriate language. Include your first name, but not your last name on the comment.  All comments are moderated and approved before they appear.  If you do not want your comment to be published, please start your post with "DON'T SHARE".

Emma's Secret Crush Goes Viral

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Read the case study "Emma's Secret Crush Goes Viral"  from the "Oops! I Broadcast It in the Internet" discussion guide from CommonSenseMedia.org.

Write a paragraph response as a comment in which you discuss these questions:

If you were Emma, what would you do when you got Ted’s text? Who is most at fault, if anyone, for spreading Emma’s secret?

1. How would this situation be different if Emma had told Chantal about the crush in person instead of by sending a text message?
2. How could Emma resolve or fix the situation herself? Is there a way she could make the situation better?
3. Has anyone ever shared information about you or someone you know over IM, text, the Internet, etc. thatyou or they wanted to keep private? If so, what did you do?

My Secret Diary... Sort Of

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Read the case study "My Secret Diary...Sort Of"  from the "Oops! I Broadcast It in the Internet" discussion guide from CommonSenseMedia.org

Write a paragraph response as a comment in which you discuss these questions:

1. What would you say to your parents, if anything, if you were Tommy?
2. How is Tommy’s parents’ reading his blog similar to or different from reading a diary that he’s written in anotebook or paper journal?
3. Do you think it’s fair for his parents to read the things Tommy posts on the Internet, given that his blog is technically public? Why or why not?
4. Why might his parents want to read his blog? Given these reasons, how would you react if your parents asked to read your email or text messages?
5. Have you ever been in a situation where your parents or someone else has asked to read something that you felt was private? If so, how did you feel? What did you do?