Social Media and Your Digital Footprint

Social media is a way to share parts of your life with others, but everything you do on the internet leaves a trail behind you!

What is Social Media?

Social media refers to websites and apps that let you create and share content, like photos and videos, and connect with other people. Popular social media platforms include YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

But social media is much more than just sharing selfies! There are many different types:

• Video Sharing: Platforms like YouTube and TikTok let you watch, create, and share short or long videos about almost anything.
• Photo Sharing: Apps like Instagram are built around sharing photos and short videos with captions.
• Social Networking: These platforms, like Facebook, are designed to connect you with friends and family and share updates about your life.
• Gaming Communities: Games like Roblox and Minecraft have built-in social features that let you chat and play with friends.
• Messaging Apps: Apps like WhatsApp and Discord combine messaging with group chats and community features.

Your Digital Footprint

Every time you post a photo, write a comment, or even “like” something on social media, you are adding to your digital footprint. Your digital footprint is a record of everything you have ever done on the internet. It’s like a trail of footprints that follows you everywhere you go!

But your digital footprint is bigger than you might think. It includes:

• Posts and Comments: Everything you write or share on social media.
• Photos and Videos: Any image or video you upload, even if you delete it later.
• “Likes” and Reactions: The posts you react to tell a story about what you enjoy.
• Search History: The things you search for in a web browser are often saved.

Even things you do when you are not logged in can be tracked! Websites can remember your computer using things like cookies and IP addresses (which you learned about in earlier chapters).

Think Before You Post

It’s very important to remember that once something is on the internet, it’s almost impossible to completely delete it. Even if you delete a post, someone else might have already saved it or taken a screenshot. That’s why you should always think carefully before you post anything:

• Would you be okay with your teacher or your grandma seeing it?
• Is it kind and respectful to others?
• Does it share any personal information that should stay private?
• Could this post hurt someone’s feelings or make them look bad?

A good rule to remember is the 10-Minute Rule: before you post something emotional or important, wait 10 minutes and read it again. You might decide to change your mind!

Cyberbullying and Being an Upstander

Sometimes, people use social media to be mean to others. Cyberbullying is when someone uses the internet to send hurtful messages, share embarrassing photos, or spread rumors about someone else. It can happen through comments, messages, posts, or even in online games.

Cyberbullying is serious because it can follow someone everywhere — at home, at school, and on their phone.

If you see cyberbullying happening, here is what you can do:

• Don’t join in. Laughing or sharing a mean post makes the problem worse.
• Be an upstander, not a bystander. Support the person being bullied by sending them a kind message or telling a trusted adult.
• Report it. Most apps let you report bullying behavior so the platform can take action.
• Save evidence. If you are being bullied, take screenshots and show them to a trusted adult.

The most important thing to remember is: never keep bullying a secret. Tell a parent, teacher, or another trusted adult right away.

Sharing Photos and Videos Safely

Photos and videos are one of the most popular things to share on social media. But before you share, keep these tips in mind:

• Check the background: Make sure there are no clues about where you live, like your house number, street sign, or school name.
• Ask permission: Always ask a friend or family member before posting a photo of them.
• Think about the future: Will you still be happy this photo is online in five years? Colleges and employers sometimes look at social media profiles.
• Turn off location: Many phones tag photos with the exact location where they were taken. Ask an adult to help you turn this off in your phone’s settings.

Did you know?

• A Billion Users: Some social media platforms have over a billion active users every single month! That’s about one out of every eight people on the entire planet.
• The First Social Network: Before Facebook or Instagram, there was a site called “Six Degrees” launched in 1997. It let users create profiles and add friends — just like today’s social networks!
• Digital Footprints Last Forever: Experts say that by the time today’s 10-year-olds are adults, they will have shared thousands of posts, photos, and comments online. That’s why learning to manage your digital footprint now is so important!

Check Your Knowledge

1. What is “social media,” and can you name two different types?
2. What is a “digital footprint,” and name two things that are part of it besides posts and comments.
3. Why is it so hard to completely delete something from the internet?
4. What is cyberbullying, and what should you do if you see it happening?