Understanding and Managing Your Digital Footprint

For All Digital Week on April 4th, a interactive workshop titled “Understanding and Managing Your Digital Footprint” will be organized. The purpose of this workshop is to help students understand the concept of a digital footprint, how it is created, and its impact on personal privacy, reputation, and security. Through this session, students will learn about the significance of managing their digital presence and ways to protect themselves from potential digital risks. The workshop will provide practical strategies that will enable them to maintain a safe and positive online identity in today’s digital world. The event will take place on a date to be decided and will be held either at a physical venue or online. The workshop will last for approximately three hours and will be exclusively for students who are interested in learning about their digital presence and online safety. The session will begin with a welcome and introduction segment. During this opening session, students will be introduced to the concept of a digital footprint and how their online activities—including social media usage, online shopping, and website interactions—contribute to shaping their online identity. An engaging icebreaker activity called “Digital Trace?” will be conducted, where students will try to determine how much personal information about them can be found online based on their digital activity. A keynote talk will follow, focusing on the importance and impact of digital footprints. A digital privacy expert will provide an informative presentation on how digital footprints are formed. The speaker will discuss how online searches, social media interactions, and shared personal data contribute to one’s digital identity. The talk will also highlight the risks of an unmanaged digital footprint, including potential privacy breaches, identity theft, and negative reputational effects. The next session will be an interactive activity that focuses on how to manage digital footprints effectively. During this hands-on session, students will analyze examples of real digital footprints (such as public profiles, social media posts, and search histories) to understand how these online traces are formed. The session will also provide guidance on privacy settings, strong password management, and making informed decisions before sharing personal content online.

A panel discussion will then explore how digital footprints impact personal and professional life. The workshop will then move into a practical activity, where students will develop a personal digital footprint management plan. Participants will be divided into small groups and will work together to create strategies for maintaining a positive online presence. They will decide what type of content should be shared publicly, what should remain private, and how they can monitor and control their digital footprints over time. Afterward, each group will share their key takeaways with the larger audience. The workshop will conclude with closing remarks and a Q&A session. This final segment will provide a summary of the most important insights from the workshop. Students will be encouraged to apply what they have learned to their daily online activities to ensure a safe and responsible digital presence. The session will end with an open Q&A session, allowing participants to ask any remaining questions about digital privacy, security, and footprint management. By the end of the workshop, students will: Gain a clear understanding of what a digital footprint is and how it can affect their future. Learn practical strategies for managing and maintaining a responsible and secure online presence. Develop essential skills for protecting their privacy and personal data on digital platforms. Understand the importance of being mindful about online behavior and the long-term effects of their digital actions. This workshop will empower students with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the digital world safely, helping them build a more responsible, positive, and secure online identity.

Organizer: Nada Ratković, prof. savjetnik, Srednja strukovna škola bana Josipa Jelačića Sinj, Sinj, Croatia