This week I pondered digital footprints and their positive or negative impact. I fully agree with the videos and reading this week that it is almost impossible for a person to have no digital footprint in today’s society. Due to this reality, it is up to families and educators to share methods of creating positive digital footprints with children and students.
The video on digital footprints from Dr. Pam Lloyd highlighted how all aspects of a person’s life can influence digital footprints. I liked how her video focused on the community circles and how one area of your life influences other areas. In particular, this video reminded me of what I often already tell my students, “be who you want to be online”. Meaning, be in charge of what you post. I try to encourage my students to take charge of the impressions they create with their digital lives. When it fits into my curriculum, I try to share stories from my experience working in litigation support for lawyers. I don’t tell these stories to scare or frighten my students; rather, my goal is to remind students that negative postings online do have consequences and things posted online (or via cell phones) never really disappear.
I try to walk students through the idea that a harmless selfie can showcase a whole lot of things about a person. For example, in a normal selfie, the audience can clearly see a person’s face and where they are. Often times people forget all the things that a selfie’s background can reveal. A selfie in a bathroom mirror? Well, now I know you are in a hotel, what make-up you like to use and how clean you keep your items while getting ready for a day. Kinda creepy, but also true.
I don’t believe taking selfies is wrong. However, I do believe students should have an awareness of how they can be used in the eyes of the law if need be. Without going into too many specific details, I try to bring this message home by sharing court cases I worked on. I think having some real world examples helps students make concrete connections. Not to mention, most of my students love to hear stories about my life because it means we are not “learning” the necessary material…little do they know all life stories I share have a point.
One of my favorite cases to share to help make a solid connection for students is the case of a father trying to win custody of his two children. The attorney I supported was able to use selfies taken by the now ex-wife and the middle school aged children, to support the idea that the father was able to provide a more reliable and stable home. The two kids didn’t realize it but through selfies taken and posted over a year or two, they had created a perfect timeline of all the men their mom had “dated”. Several of these men had prior history of child abuse and drug use, and through this observation the lawyer was able to demonstrate to the judge the mother’s concept of a safe home. Ironically, it was the kids selfies that “broke” the case.
In today’s world, it is next to impossible to have no digital footprint. When any traffic accident is instantly available in report form online, even those who wish to have no online presence often do. I think it is important for people to search themselves online and make active attempts to create a positive online presence if a simple search reveals too many negative items. This was life advice given by several attorneys to clients I helped and this is advice I pass along to my students. Ultimately, it is like gossip, you can’t stop it but you can help shape it to have a more positive nature. I think this is true for digital footprints, especially in regards to social media.
The video on digital footprints from Dr. Pam Lloyd highlighted how all aspects of a person’s life can influence digital footprints. I liked how her video focused on the community circles and how one area of your life influences other areas. In particular, this video reminded me of what I often already tell my students, “be who you want to be online”. Meaning, be in charge of what you post. I try to encourage my students to take charge of the impressions they create with their digital lives. When it fits into my curriculum, I try to share stories from my experience working in litigation support for lawyers. I don’t tell these stories to scare or frighten my students; rather, my goal is to remind students that negative postings online do have consequences and things posted online (or via cell phones) never really disappear.
I try to walk students through the idea that a harmless selfie can showcase a whole lot of things about a person. For example, in a normal selfie, the audience can clearly see a person’s face and where they are. Often times people forget all the things that a selfie’s background can reveal. A selfie in a bathroom mirror? Well, now I know you are in a hotel, what make-up you like to use and how clean you keep your items while getting ready for a day. Kinda creepy, but also true.
I don’t believe taking selfies is wrong. However, I do believe students should have an awareness of how they can be used in the eyes of the law if need be. Without going into too many specific details, I try to bring this message home by sharing court cases I worked on. I think having some real world examples helps students make concrete connections. Not to mention, most of my students love to hear stories about my life because it means we are not “learning” the necessary material…little do they know all life stories I share have a point.
One of my favorite cases to share to help make a solid connection for students is the case of a father trying to win custody of his two children. The attorney I supported was able to use selfies taken by the now ex-wife and the middle school aged children, to support the idea that the father was able to provide a more reliable and stable home. The two kids didn’t realize it but through selfies taken and posted over a year or two, they had created a perfect timeline of all the men their mom had “dated”. Several of these men had prior history of child abuse and drug use, and through this observation the lawyer was able to demonstrate to the judge the mother’s concept of a safe home. Ironically, it was the kids selfies that “broke” the case.
In today’s world, it is next to impossible to have no digital footprint. When any traffic accident is instantly available in report form online, even those who wish to have no online presence often do. I think it is important for people to search themselves online and make active attempts to create a positive online presence if a simple search reveals too many negative items. This was life advice given by several attorneys to clients I helped and this is advice I pass along to my students. Ultimately, it is like gossip, you can’t stop it but you can help shape it to have a more positive nature. I think this is true for digital footprints, especially in regards to social media.