Tech Task #1 - Digital Footprints and Identities
Hello everyone!
As previously mentioned, my Internet for Educators course includes Tech Tasks, small assignments that we need to do in blog posts separate from our weekly blog. I'm going to start with Tech Task #1 today, all about our own digital footprints!
Our task is to discuss what online services we use, and what appears when we Google ourselves. Then we are to discuss the importance (or lack thereof) of our digital footprint and if it is important to address in schools.
If you Google search my name, this is what pops up.
None of these links are me! I may pop up if you click the Facebook or Linkedin links, but that is not my Twitter account, my website (haylakay.com), and none of those pictures are of me.
However, if you Google search specifically: "kayla hay" winnipeg
This appears...
Different story! My Linkedin, Instragram, and educator Twitter profile appear, and if you scroll down there is an article with my name from the Winnipeg New Music Festival, a story about a marijuana grow-op (which is NOT about me!), a website about Brandon University alumni, and a photo of me is the first image search result. Adding the city I frequent to the Google search really narrowed in the results to be about me.
I think one of the most important things about a digital identity, is to know that it is a part of your identity. It does not live as a separate entity without relation to you. Some people use these accounts anonymously, but even then there are ways to connect accounts to people (I.P. addresses, etc). I think it's important to recognize that the words you say online hold merit. They are not just words you can type without consequence. To me, it's like the idea of free speech. Just because it is "free speech", it does not mean that your words are weightless and you cannot face consequences for your actions. The same goes with our digital identities, our digital footprints.
Protecting digital identities is a tricky subject. I want to say that making your information private is the best way to protect yourself, but I think doing that removes the capabilities that the internet has. For example, I did have my personal Twitter account private for a long time. However, I was annoyed that whenever I wanted to respond to someones tweet, if they didn't follow me they wouldn't see my tweet. By having my account private, it removed the communication aspect that I used to really enjoy about Twitter. You could say that it depends on your goals or uses for different social medias. We use our professional Twitter accounts for networking and communicating, meaning it would likely best work being public. However, if I'm sharing photos on Instagram, where really I'm just sharing them for my family and friends to see, I may as well make that account private. I can still comment on other's photos and communicate with others on Instagram even if my account is private, people just can't see my photos without my permission.
Students need to be shown and taught how to use these technologies responsibly. Given the accessibility to technology and social media, I would not be surprised if many employers (if not all, at this point) Googled their candidates to see what they could find out about them online. According to this infographic by Common Sense Media, 54% of teens say that if parents knew what actually happens on social media, they'd be a lot more worried about it. Why is that? Are teens saying that because of what they see others posting on the internet, or are they talking about what they themselves post on the internet? How do we stop these things from happening?
Education!
Involving these topics in the schools, I think, provides students a space to talk about their social media or internet use, and why it's safe or not. Parents can provide a very helpful role in this also. Students can learn how to use social media and the internet responsibly, but in order to learn they need exposure. If no one has ever talked to them about responsible internet usage, where do they begin? Students also may not realize the impact their actions and words have on the internet (as previously mentioned).
But, I can understand the weight of my words online. I can recognize that even though I am typing these words instead of verbalizing them, they are still my words. It is important to integrate these topics into the schools so that our students can understand the impact of their words as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post!
As previously mentioned, my Internet for Educators course includes Tech Tasks, small assignments that we need to do in blog posts separate from our weekly blog. I'm going to start with Tech Task #1 today, all about our own digital footprints!
Our task is to discuss what online services we use, and what appears when we Google ourselves. Then we are to discuss the importance (or lack thereof) of our digital footprint and if it is important to address in schools.
Google Searching
I am an avid social media user. My main apps/websites (as included in a "Social Media" folder on my phone) include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, Pinterest, Snapchat, Linkedin and YouTube. I think I also have accounts on websites such as Soundcloud, but I haven't logged in in ages.If you Google search my name, this is what pops up.
However, if you Google search specifically: "kayla hay" winnipeg
This appears...
My Digital Identity
Digital identity, according to Wikipedia, is "information on an entity used by computer systems to represent an external agent". We, people, put information about ourselves into these computer systems to represent us in the digital world. My digital identity varies depending on which platform you see. On Twitter, I share more random/small thoughts about my day. For example, my most recent tweet is "Also my professor today asked what I was playing for my recital and I totally blanked so that was exciting". I doubt anyone really cares to read that information, and not that I would expect comments, but I found my own embarrassment amusing. On Facebook, I sometimes will share a meme or two, but I usually save it for more important posts. Most recently, I shared my grandfathers obituary and shared some photos of us together, since he died over the winter break. I then shared a Bud, Spud, and Steak event to support my past high schools annual band trip.I think one of the most important things about a digital identity, is to know that it is a part of your identity. It does not live as a separate entity without relation to you. Some people use these accounts anonymously, but even then there are ways to connect accounts to people (I.P. addresses, etc). I think it's important to recognize that the words you say online hold merit. They are not just words you can type without consequence. To me, it's like the idea of free speech. Just because it is "free speech", it does not mean that your words are weightless and you cannot face consequences for your actions. The same goes with our digital identities, our digital footprints.
Protecting digital identities is a tricky subject. I want to say that making your information private is the best way to protect yourself, but I think doing that removes the capabilities that the internet has. For example, I did have my personal Twitter account private for a long time. However, I was annoyed that whenever I wanted to respond to someones tweet, if they didn't follow me they wouldn't see my tweet. By having my account private, it removed the communication aspect that I used to really enjoy about Twitter. You could say that it depends on your goals or uses for different social medias. We use our professional Twitter accounts for networking and communicating, meaning it would likely best work being public. However, if I'm sharing photos on Instagram, where really I'm just sharing them for my family and friends to see, I may as well make that account private. I can still comment on other's photos and communicate with others on Instagram even if my account is private, people just can't see my photos without my permission.
In Schools
I firmly believe digital identity and digital footprints need to be addressed in schools. Absolutely. We assume students, since they've grown up with technology, fully understand technology and how to use it. But do they understand the impact of their words online? Do they understand the importance of acting responsible online?Students need to be shown and taught how to use these technologies responsibly. Given the accessibility to technology and social media, I would not be surprised if many employers (if not all, at this point) Googled their candidates to see what they could find out about them online. According to this infographic by Common Sense Media, 54% of teens say that if parents knew what actually happens on social media, they'd be a lot more worried about it. Why is that? Are teens saying that because of what they see others posting on the internet, or are they talking about what they themselves post on the internet? How do we stop these things from happening?
Education!
Involving these topics in the schools, I think, provides students a space to talk about their social media or internet use, and why it's safe or not. Parents can provide a very helpful role in this also. Students can learn how to use social media and the internet responsibly, but in order to learn they need exposure. If no one has ever talked to them about responsible internet usage, where do they begin? Students also may not realize the impact their actions and words have on the internet (as previously mentioned).
Conclusion
Personally, I have what I would call a pretty heavy social media presence. In terms of privacy, I feel I don't have much to hide. I use my social media all differently, some of it to share important news in my life or to have a laugh about something silly I did.But, I can understand the weight of my words online. I can recognize that even though I am typing these words instead of verbalizing them, they are still my words. It is important to integrate these topics into the schools so that our students can understand the impact of their words as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post!
This is a fantastic post - lots of detail and great insight! Thanks for sharing. I agree that education around these issues is vital in today's world.
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