A student's online reputation, or digital footprint, is a lasting record of their online activity. Posts, photos, videos and comments can impact future opportunities. It's important that parents and educators teach students to think before sharing, to use strict privacy settings and to regularly monitor their online presence for inappropriate material.
Key Strategies for Managing Students' Online Reputation
Think before you post: teach students that once something is online, it is permanent and can be saved and shared even if they delete it.Â
Conduct regular check-ins: search student's name on search engines to see what is publicly visible
Review and delete: go through old social media or gaming app accounts and delete unused profiles or inappropriate content
Set privacy controls: adjust setting on all apps and social media to limit who can see what your student posts
Lead by example: Model good online behavior by being mindful of what you post