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Hallie Nevermann
Mass Media
Informational Essay Draft 1
27 September 2021
The Path of Your Digital Footprint
Do you ever feel like your online activity is being traced or followed? That is caused by
your digital footprint. A digital footprint is information about a certain person as a result of their
online activity. Some questions about this topic include, who can follow your digital footprint,
why does your digital footprint matter, and when does your digital footprint end or does it not? I
have answers to all these.
To start with, who can follow your digital footprint? Almost everyone can. Your friends
and family might track you if they are curious. Companies might track you to help them build a
profile. By knowing information about you, they can target their marketing toward you.
Employers might track you to see your past and if you would be a good employee.
Cybercriminals might track you to gain access to information about you like finance information
or to commit identity fraud (Allstate). Someone can search something simple about you and find
out your email, address, phone number, social media accounts, pictures, and even more. Overall,
many people can follow your digital footprint and they do this for many reasons.
Next, why does your digital footprint matter? Your digital footprint is important because
it can have a huge impact on your reputation, relationships, and employment opportunities. This
can have a positive or negative impact (Digital Citizenship). It can have a negative impact if you
post something or someone posts something of you doing something you should not be doing.
This could affect you at a young age because of school. You could be suspended from school,
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sports, or even worse. This affects you later on in life because it could stop you from getting a
job or going to the school you wanted to. Your digital footprint can affect you in a good way
because it can share the good things you have done. For example, family vacations, volunteer
time, and more. As you can see, your digital footprint is important because it leaves a lasting
impact on your life.
Lastly, does your digital footprint ever go away? Your digital footprint is permanent.
Every time you do something online it is stored forever. Even if you delete a post or delete your
search history, it can always be brought back. This happens because it is easier to store data than
it is to delete it (Brain Game). In conclusion, your digital footprint is permanent and every online
activity you make will be there forever.
Overall, almost everyone can follow your digital footprint, your digital footprint is
important because it has a huge impact on your reputation, and your digital footprint is
permanent.
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Works Cited
"All You Need to Know about Your Digital Footprint." Brain Gain, 2004,
www.braingainmag.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-your-digital-footprint.htm.
Accessed 29 Sept. 2021.
"Leaving a Digital Footprint." Digital Citizenship, 2019,
www.digitalcitizenship.nsw.edu.au/articles/leaving-a-digital-footprint#:~:text=Once%20s
omething%20is%20posted%20or,you%20have%20viewed%20or%20created. Accessed
29 Sept. 2021.
"What Does Your Digital Footprint Reveal about You?" Allstate, 2020,
blog.infoarmor.com/employers/rwhat-does-your-digital-footprint-reveal-about-you.
Accessed 29 Sept. 2021.
