Reflection Post- Week 1 "Be Careful What You Click For"

The primary focus of this week's activities is the technological mark we make as humans, referred to as the digital footprint. As the name implies, a digital footprint is essentially the trail an individual leaves on the internet in their lifetime. As such, it can consist of personal correspondence, such as emails, instant messaging, and other forms of social media, as well as posts others make referring to that particular individual. 

Personally, I consider a digital footprint to be functional, if not inevitable. It can be useful in a variety of contexts, both professional and personal, and yield a wide range of social benefits. Programs such as LinkedIn offer individuals an opportunity to present themselves as qualified and polished to prospective employers and as such, provides them with a social connection without the demands of meeting face-to-face. However, what some individuals fail to consider while subconsciously forming their digital footprint, is that employers, relatives and the like often have access to other media outlets in which they are more expressive, and subsequently less discrete. 

While I believe that the Internet should be a forum for self-expression, I feel that it is necessary to adhere to certain social norms when engaging with others online. Albion's "Core Rules for Netiquette" summarizes these standards efficiently, stating that the same rules should apply for online behaviour as do in the 3-dimensional world (Albion, 2011). While values and morals will vary between individuals to a certain extent, I agree with this claim, and believe that it can be beneficial for social media users to consider how they may be perceived by others before posting opinions, as when the wrong things are shared online, there are often very negative implications for the user as well as the subsequent consumers of that message. Asking themselves questions like, "Would my pastor appreciate this?", and "Will my future job prospects overlook me because of this post?" before publishing ideas or arguments on the Internet may reduce such risks. It is not at all uncommon or difficult for employers to search for applicants on social media outlets such as Facebook prior to hiring, as I discovered through completing the Digital Footprint Scavenger Hunt, available at http://handy4class.wikispaces.com/Digital+Footprint+Scavenger+Hunt. When I searched for myself online, my Facebook profile was readily available to whomever may choose to view it, and in fact, my current employer even admitted to doing so before offering me the position at the company.

That being said, not all social media applications necessarily need to be linked to the individual as a member of society. Blogs such as tumblr and Pinterest can allow individuals to adopt an online personality separate from their personal identity. Such outlets facilitate reasonably uninhibited expression, often among strangers, and should be considered as an alternative to Facebook and Twitter for sharing controversial opinions. However, the rules of etiquette should still apply, I believe with particularly attention to the humanity of other users, to avoid cyber-bullying, and make for a safe, comfortable social environment in which people can share their thoughts and opinions with respect for one another.