Teaching our children the value of our digital footprint

In a course discussion with peers from other schools, we were sharing portfolios online and talked about how our online portfolios could be used after the completion of the course. A comment was made noting that if it is not going to be used, one should make it private to ensure privacy.  This comment reminded me of how I approached social media with my children.

As my two children grow older, I admire how they both manage their online presence.  Both approach it vey differently, one is very private and closely controls who connects with him and the other mindfully curates content to promote himself.

A few years ago I wrote an article, Our Children's Social Media Footprint, in the school's blog for the parent community. It shared how my spouse and I instilled the importance of a digital footprint with our children. When our children began to take an interest in social media we empowered them by asking for consent for before taking and posting a picture of them on social media.  

By doing so, they learn that their digital footprint is theirs alone early in life. They learn when around others, who are taking pictures of them, that it is okay to say no and demand to have their images removed if they do not approve.  Such action has given them power and control over their identity online.

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