Privacy Module

Lesson 4: Online identity and Reputation

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Part 1

Digital footprint

A digital footprint is all of the information about an individual that exists online or in the public domain. This can include personal information shared by the individual but can also include audio files, photos, social media posts, text and videos.

Digital footprints can even include interactions with family, friends, groups and organizations through comments and Likes. Just as you leave footprints when walking, you leave digital footprints while browsing and interacting online.

Discussion/Self-Reflection

• What does your digital footprint look like?
• Is there anything that you might want to change about your digital footprint?
• If so, what and why?

Part 2

Online identity

An individual’s identity can include their personal beliefs, characteristics, interests, and traits. It can also include their membership and participation in community groups based on their identifying characteristics or personal interests.

Your online identity is how you present yourself in an online setting. People actively make their own online identities.

You’re in control

You can control your online identity differently in different settings or situations. You might have different online identities depending on the community, group or social media platform you are using and the people you interact with in that space.

Identity across platforms

A platform facilitates interactions between people. Your online identity might be consistent across social media platforms, or you might develop several online identities or personas.

What personal information you choose to share online and who you chose to share that information with makes up your online identity.

Selective sharing

You may choose to share some content with select audiences and it is important to know how to make those modifications.

Discussion/Self-Reflection

• What online identity or identities do you currently have?
• Is there anything you might want to change about your online identities?
• If so, what and why?

Part 3

Online reputation

An individual’s reputation includes the beliefs or opinions others have about that individual.

Your online reputation is how others view you in an online setting.

Your online identity contributes to your online reputation, but you do not have complete control over your online reputation. Other people will interpret your online activity based on their own unique beliefs, experiences and opinions.

Your online reputation might differ with different people or groups.

Discussion/Self-Reflection

• What is your online reputation?
• What steps can you take to improve your online reputation or to actively develop a positive online reputation?

Part 4

Representation

Representation is media (images, photos, videos), symbols (emojis, gifs, memes) or text that expresses or represents someone or something.

• Emojis: A small digital icon used to represent an emotion or idea (for example a smiley face, a shrugging person, kissing lips)
• GIFs: Animated images.
• Memes: “An amusing or interesting item (such as a captioned picture or video) or genre of items that is spread widely online especially through social media”

Online representation

Think before you share;

• Emojis can have a different meaning depending on the unique context
• An article published by a political group might represent participation in that group or support of that group’s beliefs
• A GIF of a scene from a movie might represent a person’s feelings or experience on a topic, while those unfamiliar with the film might be confused by that representation

In other words, what people post online is a representation of themselves and how they feel about something or someone. Sometimes, people share information with a clear intent or message. Other times, information shared can be unclear. Often, information shared online is interpreted differently by different people. That is why it is important to think about the message something sends before you share that information.

Discussion/Self-Reflection

• If you post something, what message is it sending to others?
• Why does it send that message?
• How could it be interpreted differently by others?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Facebook Safety Center
• Safety | Official Site [Instagram]
• Security Page [WhatsApp]
• Facebook Help Center
• Instagram Help Center
• WhatsApp Help Center
• Connect Safely

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