We often talk with our children and students about the importance of managing digital footprints. A majority of our digital footprint is related to the internet sites we visit and the comments and posts we leave when online. However, an often left out component of a digital footprint is our interaction with the digital world when we aren't online. Shopping and using value cards at the grocery store, purchasing items with a credit card, and using a cell phone for coupons are all examples of ways a person may share information without realizing they are adding to their digital footprint. Building an awareness of how these actions impact a digital footprint will allow us to make smarter decisions. As educators and parents we should incorporate this piece of digital literacy into our conversations with kids.
The following video, Sharing Information: A Day in Your Life, was recently released by the Federal Trade Commission, (FTC,) in hopes of creating consumer awareness around privacy and the sharing of personal information. The video accompanies the FTC's final report on privacy, Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change, which calls on companies to give people greater control over the collection and use of their personal data.
