BigFoot Digital Footprint research is designed to help digital citizens become aware of their digital footprints. This is accomplishing through public workshops and seminars on data ethics and data awareness topics. One of the key projects BigFoot Digital Footprint research has begun is a social media experiment through Facebook via a downloadable app (available through the iStore and Google Play). Users log into the secure-server controlled app, sync their Facebook accounts, and answer a 30-second self-surveyed list of questions. Following the survey audiences receive a personalized report discovering their online, Facebook, presence. Once users have received their results, there is a digital platform on the BigFoot.ie website for users to engage with the researchers themselves and other users. The purpose is to create constructive dialogue and foster debate on scientific endeavors and approach.

1. Motivation
Users are often overwhelmed with the complexity of data
privacy. This research argues users can not assess privacy needs
if they do not full understand their online data usage. This
research focuses specifically on Social Media. The main impact
of this research is an increased understanding of how users
assess privacy needs based on an underlying assessment of
personal data usage. The specific focus of this research is in
social media
Results and Discussion
• Users show high awareness for engagement of ‘others’ on
their own content.
• Users show low awareness for
engagement they conduct on
the posts of ‘others’
• Results from 300 trial users
The ADAPT Centre for Digital Content Technology is funded under the SFI Research Centres Programme
(Grant 13/RC/2106) and is co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund.
Future Work
• Extending current approach focused on Facebook to other
social media platforms.
• Extending current approach to take public data about the
user that can be found outside of social media into account
(e.g. google search rank etc.).
• Extend approach towards auto-adjustment of privacy settings
based on the users data behaviour and awareness.
Problem Statement
Privacy research often lacks a dep understanding of the users
data usage awareness. Without this understanding privacy
related research and policies can end up misaligned with the
needs and preferences of the users.
Novelty of Work
Most research is related to the assessment of privacy needs
without considering the underlying awareness of data usage.
This is specifically important in the use of social media data
which focused on user feedback and engagement.
BigFoot.ie – Are You Aware of Your Digital Footprint
Assessing Data Usage and Privacy Awareness
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Kevin Koidl
Theme C, TCD
Owen Conlan
Theme C, TCD
Mark Farrell
Theme C, TCD
References
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bigfoot-digital-footprint/id1170084708
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bigfoot.bigfoot