Health Information & Media Literacy

Bibliography

Be Consistent

Using a consistent user name in digital platforms will help you in being recognized across platforms. It will also be helpful to you in establishing your digital footprint and personal brand. If there are others with your name, consider a middle initial or nickname.

• "What's your digital footprint?" Smore. N.p., 12 July 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. <https://www.smore.com/6pbw-what-s-your-digital-footprint>.
• Centre, Safer Internet. "Create a positive digital footprint online." Safer Internet Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. <https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/blog/create-positive-digital-footprint-online>.
• "Unit #2 : Your Life Depends On It." Planning 10. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. <http://planning10dylan.weebly.com/unit-2--your-life-depends-on-it.html>.
• Techlicious. "11 Simple Ways to Protect Your Privacy." Time. Time, 24 July 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. <http://techland.time.com/2013/07/24/11-simple-ways-to-protect-your-privacy/>.

Be Real

To establish an online identity, it's not only important to use your real name, but also be aware that many networking sites have rules about using your real name. Hiding behind a fake identity can lead to saying things you would not in real life, bullying, and more. If there is trouble, your true identity isn’t that hard to discover. Instead be real and be smart online.

Begin

If you are 13 or older, you are legally ready to begin developing a digital footprint leading to college, career, and citizenship success. Your teachers, school librarian, and those tech-savvy family members are great people to turn to for guidance. Remember, if you don’t establish your online identity someone else can.

How Is Personal Privacy Achieved?

What Is a Digital Footprint?

Personal privacy can be achieved by respecting yourself, thinking before you post, thinking before you say and thinking before you do. Once things are out there you cannot bring them back. So by thinking before you do anything you can achieve personal privacy. Individualism should be respected because independence is great. Some people prefer to work on their own and do their own thing so that should be respected. Showing respect is a great way to treat anyone. If you show someone respect 99% of the time they will show respect back. I always show respect for my other people because its the right thing to do to someone. Even if you don't like someone you still show them respect because respect is one of the most important things in life.

On the Internet a digital footprint is the word used to describe the trail, traces or "footprints" that people leave online. This is information transmitted online, such as forum registration, e-mails and attachments, uploading videos or digital images and any other form of transmission of information — all of which leaves traces of personal information about yourself available to others online.

Steps To Take To Protect Your Privacy:

• Don’t fill out your social media profile: The more information you share online, the easier it’s going to be for someone to get their hands on it. Don’t cooperate.
• Turn on private browsing: If you don’t want anyone with physical access to your computer to see where you’re hanging out online you should enable “private browsing,” a setting available in each major web browser. It deletes cookies, temporary Internet files and browsing history after you close the window.
• Lie when setting up password security questions:“What is your mother’s maiden name?” or “In what city were you born?” are common questions websites often ask you to answer so as to supposedly keep your account safe from intruders. In reality, there’s nothing secure about such generic queries. That’s because someone who wants access to your account could easily do some Internet research to dig up the answers.
• Use two-factor authentication:You can lock down your Facebook, Google, Dropbox, Apple ID, Microsoft, Twitter and other accounts with two-factor authentication. That means that when you log in, you’ll also need to enter a special code that the site texts to your phone. Some services require it each time you log in, other just when you’re using a new device or web browser.
• Lock down your hardware: Set up your PC to require a password when it wakes from sleep or boots up.

Remember: WHAT YOU DO ONLINE IS PERMANENT

My Digital Footprint

Personally, I feel that I have a positive digital footprint. I am safe on the internet and I responsibly post things that I am proud of and things I will not regret. My digital footprint is "clean" with no bad record of anything. I am comfortable with what I post online and what my friend's have posted with me in it. I am respectful of myself and my peers on the internet and I would not post anything without their permission and they would not post anything without mine. I leave behind a positive digital footprint on the internet that I am glad and comfortable with.

Create a Positive Digital Footprint Online

1. Search yourself online: Do you know what is online about you? Do a simple web search of your name and see what you can find. If you find something you are not happy with, take the necessary steps to get that content removed. Remember if your Facebook or Twitter pages appear you can change this by adjusting your privacy settings.

2. Check privacy settings: Make sure you know what information you are sharing on the websites you use, in particular on social networking sites. Most social networking sites have privacy settings to help you manage the content you share and who you share it with; you can decide if you want your posts to be shared with your online friends and followers only or with the public. Keep in mind that your friend's content and their settings can also affect your digital footprint.

3. Think before you post: Before you post that funny picture of your friend, or make that joke about someone on Twitter, ask yourself do you want everyone to see it; friends, family, grandparents, future employers? Would you be happy for others to post that type of content about you? You should be proud of everything you post online, remember once it is online it could potentially be there forever!

4. Deactivate and delete: When you stop using a social networking profile or website, it’s a good idea to deactivate or delete your account. This will mean the content is no longer live and should not be search able online; it will also remove the risk of these accounts being hacked without you knowing.

5. Make a positive footprint: We hear a lot about the negative footprints left behind online. The best way to keep your online reputation in check is to use your time online to get creative and create a positive footprint.

Health Information & Media Literacy

Done By: Gurbir Kaur Suri