Digital footprints

Your digital footprint is the trail of ‘electronic breadcrumbs’ you leave behind when you use the internet. It can include the websites you visit, the photos you upload and your interactions with other people on social networks.

Last Updated30/09/2024

What’s a digital footprint?

A common comparison is the footprints you leave behind you when walk along a beach – every step you take leaves an impression on the sandy surface that allows another person to see the marks that your activity has made and offers the possibility for them to follow your trail.

Unlike a beach footprint which will eventually fade away, the internet – and any electronic ‘event’ in general – doesn’t work the same way. It’s safe to assume that anything you do, publish or post online may be there permanently and won’t be ‘washed away’.

The information you share online can be used to build up a picture of you as a person and your activities and interests. It’s important to think about who can see that information, and to remember that even if you have tight privacy settings, others can copy the content and pass it on for the wider world.

In short, it pays to think before you put any kind of information online. Once you post something online, you lose control of that content – it can be copied, shared and quickly attract unwelcome attention.

How do I get a digital footprint?

Most people create a digital footprint when they use online services.

They may actively publish their own information by sharing – for example publishing personal information or images about a holiday, interest or event. And they may passively – often unintentionally – contribute metadata to the services they make use of. This could include their device IP address, browsing behaviour and ‘loyalty’ to any service that tracks individual or anonymised user information.

Why should I care about my digital footprint?

Common risks associated with a digital footprint:

Publishing personal information that leads to online bullying or harassment
Publishing or sharing imagery or video that is used for sexting, sextortion, image-based abuse or blackmail incidents
Publishing personal or business information that is used for social engineering attacks
Publishing or sharing information that results in harm to reputation, such as loss of employment

What can I do about my digital footprint?

As a start, do an internet search using your name and see what comes up. Getting content removed can be hard, so it’s best to think carefully before you post or send content online.

Think about who could see the content, especially if it’s shared beyond its intended audience – family, friends, peers or potential employers. And make use of privacy settings on common platforms.

Top tips for managing your digital footprint

Value your personal information
Be cautious about what you publish and where you share
Think about your online privacy and review platform settings
Manage your reputation – evaluate what the impact could be when publishing a photo, status update, comment or review before you post it
Before you share, stop and think about the effect it could have on you and those around you longer term