A digital footprint is widely known as the unique set of activities and actions that are both engaged and displayed on a digital platform, such as social media, websites, and the internet (Oxford American Dictionary). A lot of this activity involves posting and viewing posts on social media. However, I think that a lot of what our digital footprint has to do with is simply anything engaging through the internet. Tik Tok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, snap chat, all have a role to play in digital footprint. Moreover, there is other avenues that can be considered as part of the virtual world of digital footprint, which includes simple google searches like “what is among us?” All of these things have impact on digital footprint, but what is especially important to note is that “whether or not your information is shared intentionally, its being gathered by advertisers, employers and companies from which you shop” (Ericksen). Nothing feels more relevant to this topic than to the experience you have talking with your friend about a particular subject, then five minutes later you check your phone and a picture of an ad with that topic pops up as you catch up on your feed through Facebook. Meanwhile, youtube is developing an algorithm about the sports hero you just cheered for the night before  pertaining to the type of shoes he is wearing. As for how this topic applies to students, it is extremely important to teach how to navigate and understand how the internet can work in relation to business, marketing, and profit to large corporations. Digital Footprints, in my interpretation, has a close connection to the famous James Vicary Popcorn Experiment, which is known for exploiting “subliminal advertising” within film. Vicary, a researcher of marketing, conducted an experiment to extrapolate advertisements within the film Picnic, which showed: “Drink Coca-Cola” and “Eat popcorn” (Exploring Yourmind). The vast amounts of advertisements on website, ads in youtube videos, and pictures of products on Facebook, all point to this method of subliminal advertising within digital footprints. This experiment shows there is a constant “listening ear” when cookies are saved when surfing the web, as well as voice trackers of a conspirator nature that pick up on our words and conversation surrounding our interests. This subliminal advertising, though made illegal in films in 1957 because of this experiment, has expanded to the internet in very man different ways. I think it is vital to understand your own digital footprint and provide others with the education necessary to not get caught in many of the traps that are embedded in your own footprints.

Resources:

Boyle, Justin. 12 Tips for Students to Manage Their Digital Footprints. Web.

Ericksen, K. (2018, May 16). Your Digital Footprint: What Is It and How Can You Manage It?. Web.

Exploring your mind. James Vicary and Subliminal Advertising, 01 Apr 2020. Web.