Our internet footprint is a term that groups together our entire actions on the internet. These actions occur via all of the mediums that we use on the internet such as:
- Blogs
- Forum Posts
- Website Contributions
- Social Networking
There is an unwritten etiquette for communication on the internet. This is called netiquette. It is important to be aware of these social conventions because the majority of our communications via the internet is played out in the public domain.
Perhaps one of the greatest issues to overcome when communicating via the internet is the fact that the written word is easily misconstrued because it is extremely difficult to inject emotion and context into this linear form of communication. Email is by far the largest medium through which the written word is communicated.
We use Email professional interactions and for social interactions. Sometimes we even use the professional forum for sending personal emails, this is thwart with danger as often we can become confused between the two.
Other mediums such as Blogs and websites have scope to enable the users to inject emotion and context by way of linking and introducing photo's, video's and other multimedia content.
The proliferation of social networking is such that it needs to be respected when it comes to our digital footprints. Presentation of the self in everyday life is even more so important today than when it was written in 1959. Privacy on the internet especially social networks is an extremely important topic when it comes to our internet footprints. What we disclose about ourselves should be carefully considered in line with the privacy settings that not only the site has control over but what privacy settings we allow ourselves to control.
"It is important to remember that this presentation of self on the web plays an important role in defining the nature of your web presence."
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