A digital footprint, also known as a “digital shadow or an electronic footprint” is “a trail of data one creates while using the Internet” (Kapersky; Martin, 562). One’s digital footprint matters because it contains information about one’s online activity, and so oneself. So, one’s digital footprint is a means through which one’s digital and actual safety (including health) can be compromised. Thus, is it important for everyone who engages online to be knowledgeable about their digital footprint and its potential impacts.

“A digital footprint is the trail of data you create while using the Internet. This trail of data comes from the websites you visit, the emails you send, and the information you submit or download online. You build your footprint both actively and passively.”

Canadian Centre for Cyber Security

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The reasons digital footprints are important to educators and learners in particular are:

  • 1) “educators value the success of all students [and] care for students and act in their best interest”;
  • 2) educators must “act ethically and maintain the integrity, credibility and reputation of the profession” (Professional Standards for BC Educators).

To the first point, it is in the best interest of students to be healthy and safe, so education on digital safety is in the best interest of the students. Moreover, educators value the success of all students, and success hinges on students being healthy and safe, so digital safety is presently essential to the success, health and safety of all students.

Maintaining one’s digital safety has various aspects, including protecting one’s identity, practising good netiquette, and reporting and not participating in cyberbullying, among others. Part of understanding digital safety is also knowing digital footprints. Thus, digital footprints must be part of student education.

Unfortunately, “The dominant narrative around digital footprint is presented to students as a liability to be minimized”, however, scholars are advocating for students to learn “explicit skills to develop a positive digital footprint for their future.” (Martin, 563). In this digital age, the success and best interest of students hinge on students being educated digital citizens, not just for safety, but also as part of their building a network, community, and skill set for success. So, educators need to strive towards “fostering and facilitating the dynamics of healthy behaviours in using digital devices”. Firstly because of healthy, but also because it “is essential to producing responsible twenty-frst-century learners in our schools and communities” (Martin, 561). This speaks to the second reason why digital footprint is important for educators, which is that “teachers support the digital safety of their students by developing their own professional knowledge of digital safety, modeling best practices for students, and teaching students about how to stay safe online.” (Martin, 563)

Photo by Google DeepMind from Pexels

A digital footprint is made actively and passively (Kapersky). You actively contribute to your digital footprint when you knowingly share information about yourself online, which can occur in a variety of manners, but all of them require action or consent on your part (Kapersky). Passive creation of your digital footprint occurs without your knowledge, and involves collecting information from you without your consent (Kapersky). Knowing this alone is a key piece to understanding in what ways certain online activities make you vulnerable and how you can mitigate risk, protect yourself, or foster community and health online. As previously mentioned, one of the best ways to teach our students is through modelling behaviour. Additionally, with the amount of technology that is currently being incorporated into classrooms, teachers who do not have safe digital practices are also putting their students at risk.

Thus, it is important to teachers and learners, who need to understand the what, why and how of their digital footprint is, so that educators, learners, and citizens can best maintain digital safety, actual safety, and health.

Works Cited

Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. “Digital Footprint”. Awareness series, Jan 2022. Government of Canada Website. https://www.cyber.gc.ca/en/guidance/digital-footprint-itsap00133. Accessed Nov. 19 2023.

Lauricella, Alexis R., Jenna Herdzina and Michael Robb. “Early childhood educators’ teaching of digital citizenship competencies” Computers & Education, 158 (2020), 1-9. Elsevier Ltd., 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.compedu.2020.103989. 

Martin, Florence, Julie Bacak, Drew Polly, Weichao Wang and Lynn Ah;grim-Delzell. “Teacher and School Concerns and Actions on Elementary School Children Digital Safety”. MORE.