The Digital Prints We Leave Behind

Digital Footprint vs. Digital Tattoo……….

Many of us growing up with the internet have been told to be careful with the information that we put out on the internet and have referred to our internet interactions as digital footprints. However, there is a new term coined called digital tattoos that might soon replace the term digital footprints. The reasoning for this shift is because, like a tattoo, your digital mark is permanent in nature, where a footprint can be erased/washed away.  

Digital Footprint/Tattoo: (according to The Wisconsin Department of Public Information  ) “ A digital footprint (sometimes called digital tattoo) is the information that exists online about you and your activity”. 

Image Source: The Profile 

So what is the difference between a digital footprint and a digital tattoo?  

Not too much, but this is the way I see them…… 

Both of them contain information that exists online about your activity, but how the material is put out there makes them either a footprint or tattoo.  

A Digital Footprint :  These actions can be viewed as unintentional traces you leave behind. (google searches, shopping etc.) 

Digital Tattoo:  This is chosen information that a person chooses to share and is representative of themselves. 

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My own Digital Tattoo: 

That got me thinking how can we leave positive digital footprints/tattoos behind? Is my own digital  tattoo a positive or negative one? So I decided to do a data analysis of my social media accounts, since these are often the places we post and share most of our lives and thoughts…thus leaving prints/tattoos behind. 

The first one I looked at was Instagram.  I joined this platform in 2017 shortly after my daughter was born. Many of my friends were joining so I decided to give it a try.  As I looked through my posts, which are mainly of my kids and family, I realized that while I interact with this platform everyday I don’t post very often. I mainly message or comment on friends and people I follow posts as well as use it as a source to draw inspiration, ideas and teaching concepts from fellow educators.  That is one of my favorite things about Instagram— its ability to connect with lots of art educators around the world and see videos and pictures of lessons.  Some of my favorite lessons that I have taught this year have come from getting ideas on Instagram. 

Image Source: Author 

The second social media platform I took a look at was Facebook. I joined this back in 2005/2006 back when it was only open to certain colleges. To my surprise I didn’t have many posts until about 2009.  While some of my first post included photos, a good chunk of them were just written text and reminded me of the days of AIM  (AOL Instant Messenger) away messages.  

In about 2009/2010 I started creating more posts that included photos and posts documenting activities or events that I took part in. I think one of the main reasons why I didn’t post a lot back in the beginning was that first phones didn’t have great cameras and most of the photos taken were taken on digital cameras and had to have the photos downloaded. This took a bit of time unlike now where we can take a photo and post it all in a matter of minutes.  In 2009 I got my first Iphone; this was the first phone that allowed for apps like Facebook, putting posting easily at my fingertips. Secondly, when Facebook first started becoming popular my sorority warned us of posting pictures that could have a negative impact on the house and ourselves. So I was cautious at first about what I shared. Bu I found as years have gone by and with certain privacy settings in place I have become a little more open. I still think about the content I am posting since a majority of jobs look for a digital presence and at your content before hiring.

Image Source: Author 

Overall, my digital analysis of posts on the social media platforms Instagram and Facebook are positive. From the content I post to comments I make on others posts. For the most part, the posts' themes mirrored each other on both platforms but sometimes my posts on Instagram can be a bit more basic, sometimes being just a photo with a short caption.  Both platforms though follow the same theme of sharing my personal and kids achievements and experiences for the main purpose of sharing and connecting with family and friends in a positive way.  While I know that the internet/ Facebook/Instagram posts aren’t always like they seem, I try to post a realistic view of my life and create a memory of the event to look back on. However, I am guilty… I also include some of those posed “Instagram/Facebook” worthy photos along with my posts. I think a lot of us are guilty of this. 

Image Source: Video Amp 

In my research of digital tattoos this week, I came across this image below  and I think that this rings true for me in my use with social media  and many other parents during this digital age. I shared pictures online announcing the birth of my children only a day after they were born. I didn’t do this thinking that I was creating a digital tattoo for them; I did it to just share the news with family and friends who lived near and far and I continue to have the majority of my posts family focused.  But now with this knowledge…maybe I think a bit more before posting about my children. 

Image Source : Nicole M. Zumpano

Overall Thoughts….. 

Using social media isn’t negative. It doesn’t mean if you use it that you will have a negative digital tattoo/footprint left behind.  Social media can be a positive way to connect and share with family, friends, and fellow educators. It can allow for easy communication and sharing of important moments and updates in one's life. For educators, it can be a platform to share resources, ideas, and collaborate with peers. My exploration has made me realize that while right now my social media accounts are personal, in the future I want to explore creating a professional/art educator account so that I can share more of my ideas and achievements as a teacher as well as achievements of my students. Overall, social media can enhance relationships and facilitate meaningful connections in both personal and professional settings.  

Resources: 

AOL / Instant Messenger - AOL.com. (n.d.). https://cancel.aol.com/

Digital Footprint (Digital Tattoo). Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. (2023, March 17). https://dpi.wi.gov/internet-safety/digital-footprint#:~:text=A%20digital%20footprint%20(sometimes%20called,does%20not%20damage%20your%20reputation

Doennecke, S. (2021, June 8). Instagram vs. reality: Mother’s Day edition. VideoAmp. https://videoamp.com/blog/instagram-vs-reality-mothers-day-edition/

Emanuel, H. (n.d.). The digital footprint. The Profile. https://theprofilehhs.com/1428/editorials/the-digital-footprint/

Instagram. (n.d.). https://www.instagram.com/

Log into Facebook. Facebook. (n.d.). http://www.facebook.com/

Zumpano, N. M. (n.d.). DigitalTattoosPart2.webm. Google Drive. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Y6qlveED6pYXRpdzRpZllxZW8/view?resourcekey=0-mS3RTQzTzdwCqBqukSfPCg