Because the web is new, we are the first generation and every time we go online we leave a trail. But, who’s watching you? These days we are encouraged to add lots of information about ourselves onto the Internet, which gives lots of opportunities to be creative and develop good skills. Aside from the fun stuff, we always should remember that the Internet is an open environment. Personal information is routinely collected and kept for years and years by companies wanting to sell you stuff and viewed by individuals looking for information about you. So, keep safe and don’t put too much information about yourself online.
It is important to protect your identity and your own digital footprint and your individual actions. We also particularly need to be aware of the other important part of our footprint best described as digital shadow. These include things like images of you on a surveillances, your bank records, your retail and airline purchase records, telephone records, your medical database entries, information about your web searches, information about credit cards purchases, etc. This means that we need to protect ourselves from identity theft. In this unstructured information world, discipline is needed. One positive side of all is that there will be traces left of individuals for eternity. Future generations will become acquainted with many of us due to what common people are leaving behind. As educators we should teach our kids digital safety.
While checking my Google Reader at Across my Desk from E-Learning Journeys by Julie Lindsay, I found a list of social media etiquette rules for students. If you know someone watching you let’s start by being respectful in social media.
http://www.sociableblog.com/2010/04/01/50-crucial-rules-social-media-etiquette-for-students/
