The first lesson I took away about digital identity, from, Seth’s blog, is the idea that Google never forgets. I think that when we post online or something about us is posted online, it is important to remember that it is very difficult to delete something from the internet, and your past can come back to haunt you. Seth encourages acting as if you are always being watched, which is a little disturbing, but not wrong, and focus on creating a positive digital footprint.
In contrast, the article Footprints in the Digital Age by Will Richardson has a more positive perspective of digital footprints. Richardson suggests that one can use digital footprints to better network, creating connections around the globe, and explore passions. Although it seems obvious now, I had not previously thought about the internet and digitial footprints as a means of networking.
Professors, Start Your Blogs shares the value of blogs as a way to share academic knowledge with a larger audience, increasing accessibility and, essentially, creating a portfolio of work. One digital identity can also be their academic identity.
Who Owns the Digital You suggests that we have given up our privacy in exchange for “free” services that exploit the personal information we share online. This issue has been in the news a lot in the past few years, and it is certainly an area of concern and consideration, especially for those of us who have spent our entire lives online.
The last article I read was Controlling Your Public Apperance, which encourages having an online presence and fostering a positive online identity, cognizant of what you share and who might see it.