This document outlines strategies for managing one's positive digital footprint in 3 sentences or less: It discusses how anything done online leaves a digital footprint and introduces 10 strategies for managing one's positive digital footprint, such as practicing good netiquette, monitoring social media, keeping organized, using strong passwords, thinking before acting online, watching what is searched, and checking privacy settings. Resources are also provided to aid in digital footprint management.

1. Digital
Footprint
Management
Plan
Kristina Shain
Boise State University
EDTECH 543

2. Digital Footprint
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“Your digital footprint paints a picture of who you are” (InternetSociety).
Why do we care?What is it?
In simple terms, anything you
do online leaves a footprint or
“trail”.
⬡ Websites and online
shopping
⬡ Social Media
⬡ Phones, Tablets, and
Laptops

3. Strategies
Here are 10 strategies that I will use to create a personal plan for
managing my positive digital footprint.
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4. Netiquette
Do:
⬡ Respect others
⬡ Check facts
⬡ Write clearly
⬡ Remember posts are
public
⬡ Prompt responses
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Don’t:
⬡ Express negative
opinions
⬡ Post images or
comment you don’t
want others to see
⬡ Exclude others

5. Social Media
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6. 6
Monitoring social media an also be
known as social media “listening”
A user can be tracked through
tracking keywords, hashtags, and
mentions.
You should always know what is
being said about you.
Monitor Accounts

7. Knowing Your Footprint
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Not everyone likes what they
find when they search
themselves, so one must
regularly check online
information. Search for your
name, look through social
media accounts, court records
and try to fix any incorrect
information.

8. Keep Organized
We must keep track of a lot
of information. Here are
some apps to stay
organized.
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⬡ Google Keep
⬡ Cortana
⬡ Trello
⬡ Smarter Time
⬡ Todoist
⬡ Habit List
⬡ Pocket

9. Strong Passwords
With many types of devices available any device can
potentially connect to any device. Passwords should be
long and complex, never written down, and not easily
recognizable by others.
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10. Think Before Acting
⬡ Limit social media to friends
you know
⬡ Only accept people you know
⬡ Upload only things you want
others to see
⬡ Never share information
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⬡ Passwords on all devices
⬡ Avoid clickbait
⬡ Warn friends of suspicions
⬡ Log out
⬡ Strong passwords
⬡ Speak up!
Tips for helping you think before acting online

11. Balance
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12. Watch What You Search
What you search is public and anyone can see it. Here
are a few ways to limit information people find.
⬡ Clear your browsing history
⬡ Avoid JavaScript search engines
⬡ Pay attention to privacy settings
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13. Check Your Privacy Settings
Checking and changing privacy settings on accounts can
help limit what information people can find.
Find ways to check/change privacy settings on the most
popular social media sites, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn,
Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube through Experian:
How to Manage Social Media Privacy Settings
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14. Resources
Ducklin, P., & Barney, P. (2014, February 13). Safer Internet Day: don't be an online sheep – our Top 10 Tips help
you think before you act. Retrieved from https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2014/02/11/safer-internet-day-dont-
be-an-online-sheep-our-top-10-tips-help-you-think-before-you-act/
Hartney, E. (2020, January 13). 10 Basic Rules of Netiquette or Internet Etiquette. Retrieved from
https://www.verywellmind.com/ten-rules-of-netiquette-22285
Heick, T. (2019, November 23). 10 Strategies To Help Students Use Social Media For Critical Thinking -. Retrieved
from https://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/10-strategies-help-students-use-social-media-critical-thinking/
How to Manage Your Privacy Settings on Social Media. (2020, January 9). Retrieved from
https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-to-manage-your-privacy-settings-on-social-media/
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15. Resources
My Media Balance. (2019, March 13). Retrieved from https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/my-
media-balance
Nield, D. (2019, June 7). Seven apps and tools to help organize your life. Retrieved from
https://www.popsci.com/apps-tools-for-organization/
Omur, A. (2014, November 7). You're Being Watched Online: How to Avoid Being Tracked & Followed. Retrieved
from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/big-brother-watching-you-online-how-avoid-being-
tracked.html
The Importance of Strong, Secure Passwords. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.securedatarecovery.com/resources/the-importance-of-strong-secure-passwords
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16. Resources
Whalley, B. (n.d.). The 13 Best Free Social Media Monitoring Tools for Every Marketing Team. Retrieved from
https://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/29437/20-free-social-media-and-brand-monitoring-tools-that-
rock.aspx
Your Digital Footprint Matters. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.internetsociety.org/tutorials/your-digital-
footprint-matters/
Zetlin, M. (2015, November 18). Why You Should Google Yourself Regularly (and What to Do About What You
Find). Retrieved from https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/why-you-should-google-yourself-regularly-and-what-
to-do-about-what-you-find-inf.html
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Strategy List Google Doc
Here you can find a
Google Doc that
lists the resources
associated with
each strategy.