What is Your Child’s Digital Footprint?

One of the most difficult jobs on this earth is parenting.  There is no manual or guide to assist parents as they are faced with situations or dilemmas in which their only recourse is the advice of others or just plain common sense.  What complicates matter even more is the digital world in which we live.  Depending on your familiarity with social media, there can be a certain level of discomfort when working with your child in this arena. 

One of the questions that often arise for parents is how much should I monitor my child’s social media and when does it become “spying” on the child.  I will suggest that it is not “spying” but rather your duty to monitor your child’s online behavior regardless of their age.  Until they are out on their own they are still under your supervision and guidance.  Besides, they never stop being your child. 

I was speaking to a local employer the other day and he indicated that social media is one of the first places the company reviews when looking at a potential employee.  When your children are on social media they create their own digital footprint.  A digital footprint, a.k.a. digital shadow, data exhaust, electronic footprint is an expression that refers to the way technology now pervades everyone's lives.  Your "digital footprint" specifically describes the trail you leave in cyberspace and on any form of digital communication.  It is now widely accepted that in this era of e-mail, texting, blogging, and social networking, trying to hide one's digital footprint is practically futile. In fact, it's been reported that the FBI can hear your conversation via your cell phone even when it is turned off (the only thing to thwart this is take out the battery).

I found this blog post on Inversoft.com.

What You Don’t Know, CAN Hurt You

When your child is online, they are talking, sharing and engaging with friends, family and strangers. Not knowing how your child uses social networks, what information they are sharing online, and who they are talking to can be a dangerous mix. The danger lies in the transfer of information, how easily that information can be obtained and how easily it can be hidden.

Have you ever seen the parent that walks around with blinders on, listening to the angry stories their friends and other parents share about their child’s deception, but not thinking critically about his/her own child?

No one will ever admit his or her child is the bully. For your sake, your child is an angel and would never keep anything from you, or abuse the freedom you have given them online or off.

This is strictly a resource on how it is possible to obscure one’s digital footprint:

·         Clear browser history

·         Close/minimize browser when parent walks in

·         Hide or delete instant messages or videos

·         Lie or omit details about online activities

·         Use a computer parents don’t check

·         Use an Internet-enabled mobile device

·         Use privacy settings to make certain content viewable only by friends

·         Use private browsing modes

·         Create private email addresses unknown to parents

·         Create duplicate/fake social network profiles

Source: 70 Percent of Teens Hide Online Behavior from Parents

I strongly encourage you to take steps to ensure your child’s social media use is appropriate and safe.  In the short term your child may be angry or hurt that you are monitoring their activity but in the long run you will provide them with guidelines to ensure their own decision making will not have an adverse impact upon their life.  Love is often not shown but what you allow your child to do but what you do not allow them to do.  Like I said, parent is the toughest job you will ever do.