Literacy is the ability to understand and use symbolic information to function in society. Media literacy is the practice of accessing, evaluating, and creating media in any form. It is the ability to understand the messages media is sending to you. Digital literacy is one form of media literacy. These literacy skills apply to our interactions with media on the internet, through smartphones, video games, and other forms of technology. It also includes our ethical use of them.
Here are some important digital literacy skills:
How much information can a person find online about you?
Your digital footprint is an electronic trail of everything you do on the internet. This includes posts, websites you visit, tweets, uploads, comments, tags, pins, clicks, internet searches, etc. Your digital footprint can be used by others to track your online activities and the devices you use.
Every time you post something online, you leave a permanent digital footprint. You may think you have deleted a post, tweet, tag, comment, pin, image, or click but someone may have already shared it, downloaded it, or copied it. It is on the internet somewhere.
Your digital footprint reveals a lot about you. Over time it builds up into a detailed record of your likes and habits. This digital record has commercial value that you have no control over. Your digital footprint is being looked at by companies, retailers, advertisers, interest groups, and employers.
Why should you care about your digital footprint?
What you say and do online today may negatively affect your future education or employment. Universities and businesses peruse the internet before accepting students or hiring employees. Watch these videos to find out more about your digital footprint and why you should care about it.