6th-8th
Your Digital Footprint
with Common Sense Education
Embedded Files
Essential Question
Warm Up: Every Time Online
Discuss:
What images are used in the video?
What do they represent?
According to the video, what do these images have to do with the term "digital footprint"?
Like the images show, a digital footprint can:
reveal a lot about someone (lighthouse, whisper in ear)
it can be shared widely (copier and stadium/jumbotron)
it's permanent (permanent marker)
These images remind us that a digital footprint is persistent, which means it lasts a long time.
Using only one word, how does it make you feel knowing that everything you do online is stored and can be searched for, shared, or even broadcast?
What you do online is different from what you do in person because the audience who sees it is invisible.
Example:
A friend from preschool you haven't talked to in years follows you on Instagram and is part of your audience. What if he:
shows your posts to his mom?
Takes a screenshot to send to his cousin?
Or, what if you don't realize that your Instagram posts are getting saved and archived, and they pop up years later once you've forgotten about them? These are all examples of invisible audiences that you probably weren't thinking about when you made a post.
Who might be part of the invisible audience that would search for information about you or posted by you online?
This includes both people you know personally and people you don't. It might include:
old friends
colleges or schools they apply to
possible employers
scholarship committees
leaders of groups or organizations you want to join
How might people who don't know you see your posts, or posts about you, differently from those who do?
Analyze: Search for a Host
Let's look at how a digital footprint might be used to draw conclusions about people and their reputations and abilities.
Using the Truth Be Told Student Handout, look through the evidence for Iliana and Drake.
Does anything you see make you think twice about either candidate?
Next, use the steps of Take a Stand to consider whether the digital footprint of one of the candidates should affect if they are allowed to keep the job.
Read the Part 2 directions on page 6 of the handout and then look at this Chat App conversation.
Should Iliana should be fired. Why or why not?
Use the following information to have a discussion about this.
The aim of the activity isn't to determine a 'right' answer. Rather, we want:
to practice slowing our reactions down
take time to listen to other perspectives
be reflective about our own stance on this dilemma about a digital footprint
Furthermore, listening to other perspectives can help us:
discover shared beliefs and values
support greater mutual understanding
lead to more productive dialogue
resolve issues in our society
Was considering another's perspective a positive experience for students today?
Wrap Up: Your Digital Footprint
We must all realize that our digital footprint is both in our control and also somewhat out of our control. You get to decide what you post about yourself and what you send to others.
Your footprint, what you post and what others see of you can have a big impact on your life so it's important to think carefully about what you share online.
How might you be able to monitor and shape your own digital footprint in a positive way?
If not mentioned, include:
Think before you post
Review your privacy settings
Perform a search on yourself every so often to review your digital footprint
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