It is fairly safe to say that we have all searched for someone online. But have you ever searched for yourself? Whether we are conscious of it or not, we all have an online identity. How often do we think about this identity, and why might it be important to do so?

Your "digital footprint" refers to the information about you that is publicly available online - in other words your online reputation. The digital footprints you leave behind when you are online might include:

• Online purchases

• Tweets

• Facebook likes

• Website visits

• Google searches

• YouTube watch history

• Comments left on blogs

• Upvotes (+1s) on Google Plus

In this quest, you will be taking a look in the digital mirror, so to speak, by conducting a Web search of yourself. First though, let’s consider why your online identity matters.

As you learned in the video, your digital footprint can have varied implications - from those annoying pop up advertisements that seem to follow you around, to more alarming repercussions on your finances and personal freedoms, even if you haven't actually done anything wrong. The Personal Privacy challenge further addresses the issues that arise from the tracking of your online behaviors. Before diving into privacy measures, consider the more personal implications of an identity that is formed for you by others based on your digital footprints.

Examining Your Online Presence

Your online behaviors paint a picture of who you are, including your habits, interests, likes and dislikes. But just like any reputation, the image that is projected may not always be accurate. Researchers at the University of Cambridge developed a tool that takes a snapshot of your digital footprint using your Facebook likes or other social media posts. Use Apply Magic Sauce to generate your predicted profile and see how others see you.

What did you think of the results? Did your profile present an accurate picture or was it totally off-base? Were you surprised at the suggested implications that your likes have on the way you are perceived?

For many of us, our online lives and our “real” lives are becoming more and more intertwined. Online environments provide a medium for creative self-expression and conversation, and our online behaviors make up a significant portion of our social lives. In many ways our online experiences may even shape who we are in real life. But how real is this projected online identity?

Authenticity vs. Anonymity

The 1966 film Persona presents two protagonists who each struggle with an identity crisis: “the hopeless dream of being - not seeming, but being.” One character, for fear of misrepresenting herself, chooses to stop speaking altogether, while the other gradually reveals more personal details about herself, but then worries that she's shared too much. While the film was made long before the advent of the Internet, it poses a classic conundrum of transparency versus privacy that has only become more relevant in the Digital Age: How much should we share about ourselves? And how do we express ourselves authentically?

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The following article addresses this conundrum, and discusses a few decision-making points regarding online identity. One point of view is to strive for an accurate or authentic online identity, while another strategy is to strive for relative anonymity. Read Online identity: is authenticity or anonymity more important? and consider which point of view you agree with.

Did you decide that anonymity is the way to go? If so, Who Is Hosting This created an infographic that shows you How to Disappear Online.

Before you completely wipe out your online existence, though, consider the relative pros and cons of this choice. How might it affect candidacy for a job? Is a lack of presence better or worse than an inaccurate one – and why?

Protecting Your Online Reputation

While the online environment can blur or compromise your authentic identity, it can also be leveraged to broaden your representation of yourself. Social networks, personal blogs, e-portfolios and profiles provide opportunities for self-expression, connecting and collaborating in ways that can’t be achieved in face-to-face environments. You will learn more about carving out your online presence in the Professional Persona quest.

Now that you have considered the complex nature of online personas, you are ready to take a closer look at your own digital identity. First, read this quick blog post on How to Google Yourself Effectively and What to Do About It. While it is written for academics, it provides valuable information for anyone looking to research what is online about you, your life, your connections, and your affiliations. Then complete the following activity.

Search your name in Google. If you have a very common name you might want to try adding your location (e.g. John Smith Albany NY)

• 1. Write a biography for your researched online persona (from the perspective of someone who is trying to learn more about you). Alternatively, you might ask a classmate who doesn't know you very well to see what they can learn about your from a Google search, but make sure to document what they come up with in your submitted response.

  2. Write a brief (1-2 paragraph) reflection on your findings. Does this information reflect how you wish to be “seen” on the Internet? Why or why not? How does personal information reflect what someone might glean about your life? Is that accurate? Does it matter?