Week 8: Internet Footprints

Before taking this unit I did not put to much thought into what I posted online. I never considered my internet footprint , although I had considered the digital footprint left by others. I never asked myself questions such as “Would I want my mum of future employers to see this post?” before making a facebook status update about being hung-over after a night out with friends BUT I had been using facebook from a young age and to be honest, did not consider the consequences of an internet footprint. In the past few years I have been more careful about what I posted, but this was due to my grandparents adding me as a friend so I was conscious of what they thought of me. I often wondered if my children or grandchildren in future generations would look back on my facebook account when looking into family history and this left me anxious about what they would think of me. These thoughts took over and I became very conscious of not only my own posts and internet footprint but also of the posts made by others (digital shadow). I remember a friend posted some pictures of a night out at the pub in which I appeared to be (and probably was) a little worse for wear. I was horrified and asked them to take the photo down immediately, they did not comply and I still cringe every time I think about that photo. It is defiantly not something that I want my children or grandchildren to see, and yet they possibly will. This is something I cannot control and it worries me.