The digital footprint is the traces that Internet users leave online. It refers to search history, browsing history, messages sent via social media, and others. On the one hand, this phenomenon implies benefits relating to saving login details, which contributes to convenience. On the other hand, a digital footprint has drawbacks, and endangered privacy is among them. Since it is a controversial issue, this essay will describe my personal digital footprint and comment on how users can control and protect it.
My personal footprint is a reflection of my behavior on the Internet. That is why I was expected to find the websites that I often visit in my review. They include Facebook, Wikipedia, Google search page, and a few online shops. However, I did not expect my digital footprint to disclose my personal information, including login details, credit cards, and social media comments. This fact made me think that my privacy was endangered.
That is why it is necessary to consider the existing rights to privacy and protection. For example, specific legislation protects citizens’ data in the European Union, including religious beliefs, health records, and others. Thus, every organization’s website that collects information from EU citizens should ensure its protection, or the EU will impose a fine. Simultaneously, the United States does not have any universal regulation that would protect people’s absolute privacy. The country provides many smaller provisions that address this phenomenon in many subject areas. As a result, one can suppose that the EU creates better privacy and protection for its citizens, meaning that the US should improve its performance in this area.
That is why one should emphasize that every individual is responsible for controlling their own digital footprint, which includes specific steps. Firstly, it is necessary to understand that every piece of information shared via the Internet endangers one’s privacy. Secondly, it is reasonable to improve Internet hygiene that refers to using one credit card for online shopping and the other for everything else (Internet Society, n.d.). Thirdly, one should become a sophisticated user, which implies changing browsers’ and applications’ default settings to prevent them from disclosing personal data. Finally, it is suitable to use privacy-enhancing tools that will allow limiting a person’s digital footprint. Thus, managing a digital footprint is a challenging task, but improved privacy justifies all the efforts.
Reference
Internet Society. (n.d.). Module 6: How can I manage my digital footprints? Web.