How To Talk To Young Learners About Their Digital Footprint
Being born into an interconnected world, children acquire an online presence at a much younger age than previous generations. They are on social media every day, sharing pictures, videos, and posts from their everyday lives. And even before that, their parents share their pictures as early as the day they're born. However, these actions create a practically permanent trail of information that anyone with internet access can see. This trail is called a "digital footprint," and it grows with every comment we leave, video we watch, post we upload, etc., bearing unforeseeable consequences for the future. In this article, we explore the importance of protecting the digital footprint of children and discuss effective ways to achieve it.
Why Does The Digital Footprint Of Your Kids Matter?
It is likely that many children and teens don't fully grasp how much weight their online activity can carry. A controversial post from an emotional 14-year-old today can be viewed by future classmates, university administrators, or potential employers. For this reason, it is up to parents, guardians, and educators to safeguard the digital footprint of children and educate them on responsible online behavior. But before we look into how they can do that, let's explore the consequences of leaving a kid's online activity unchecked.
Digital and physical safety: Carelessly sharing personal information, such as location, school, or family details, can lead to various safety concerns, from cyberstalking and identity theft to jeopardizing a child's physical safety.
Reputation damage: Every post and online status update contributes to a child or teenager's reputation. Kids will often make unintentionally offensive and controversial posts, which can come back to haunt them, as colleges and employers often review candidates' online accounts.
Manipulation or exploitation: Being careless about their digital footprint can even put kids on the radar of cyber predators. This can lead to incidents of extortion and manipulation for financial gain and other more sinister purposes.
5 Tips To Teach Children About Their Digital Footprint
1. Approach The Subject In A Simple Manner
It is best to use simple terms to help children understand the concept of safeguarding their digital footprint. You can compare their digital trail with the footprints we leave on the sand. But highlight the fact that, unlike footsteps on the sand, our digital footprints are not washed away. On the contrary, they remain online indefinitely and can easily resurface at any point in their lives.
2. Use Real-Life Examples
To help young people better understand the consequences of reckless internet use, you can share some real-life stories of how individuals have been positively or negatively affected by their digital footprint. Make sure they are age-appropriate and don't cause unnecessary fear or anxiety. You can even try searching your child's name online to see what comes up. You might be surprised to see just how much information about their personal lives becomes available at the press of a button.
3. Model Responsible Online Behavior
While it is essential to discuss privacy settings on their social media accounts with your child and emphasize the importance of thinking before posting something online, among other responsible browsing tips, the most important part is to lead by example. If you become a role model for them, children and teens will be more likely to follow your lead and develop overall mindful and responsible online behavior. Show them the way by sharing what you do to protect your private information, such as using password managers and keeping your online accounts private.
4. Focus On Creating A Positive Footprint
Children shouldn't be afraid of their digital footprint as it's not all negative. In fact, they can focus on actions they can take to make their online trail work in their favor in the future. Encourage them to treat it like an online resume where they can share their positive achievements and hobbies, whether they are related to sports, academics, art, etc. So, when the time comes for college admissions or job applications, their online presence will be a reliable portrayal of their favorite things and best moments.
5. Create A Safe Space For Questions
If you want children to view the matter of their digital footprint in a positive light, you must refrain from one-sided lectures. Instead, start a relaxed conversation, giving kids space to ask questions and voice their concerns without fear of judgment. By creating a safe and understanding environment, children will feel more comfortable sharing their online experiences with you. This way, you will be able to be proactive and prevent the negative consequences of a thoughtless post or a scam attempt.
Sharenting And Its Consequences
We tend to put a lot of focus on what children do online and how that affects their digital footprint. But what about the actions of their parents? The latest risk to children's safety and overall online presence is known as "sharenting," and it is especially prevalent on social media platforms. This term is a combination of the words "share" and "parenting," and it describes the phenomenon where parents or guardians share the personal information of their child online in the form of pictures, videos, and other snippets of their everyday lives.
Sharenting is often a way for parents to connect with their friends and family by creating an online diary of their children's most important milestones, achievements, and experiences. However, even if the parents' intentions are good, this tendency to overshare can have a major impact on children. It creates an extensive digital footprint that the child cannot consent to but could easily become a source of embarrassment in the future. It might also result in bullying and harassment, as they could become an object of mockery by their peers. Not to mention that this content can easily be appropriated by strangers and used for malicious purposes.
It is essential for parents to view their children as future adults and consider what they would or wouldn't like to have posted online about themselves in the future. Once children are a little older, parents should ask for their permission before posting them online. Finally, they must always take the necessary steps to protect their kids' privacy, such as refraining from posting sensitive information or making their accounts visible only to close family and friends.
Conclusion
Taking the necessary precautions to protect the digital footprint of children is essential for their online and offline safety as well as their future. Starting an honest and open dialogue will help them understand how significant their online activity is and the best practices they need to follow to create a digital trail that is as positive and beneficial as possible. Finally, parents and guardians themselves must remember that they are responsible for their child's online presence and should make smart choices when sharing personal details from their family's daily life online.
