A digital footprint refers to the trail of data that a person leaves behind when using the internet. This includes websites visited, emails sent, and information submitted online. A digital footprint can be used to track a person’s online activities and devices. It is created either actively or passively by internet users. Active digital footprints are created when users deliberately share information about themselves, such as posting on social networking sites or online forums. Passive digital footprints are created when information is collected about the user without their knowledge, such as when websites collect information about how many times users visit, where they come from, and their IP address.
Digital footprints matter because they are relatively permanent and can determine a person’s digital reputation, which is now considered as important as their offline reputation. Employers can check their potential employees’ digital footprints, particularly their social media, before making hiring decisions. Colleges and universities can check their prospective students’ digital footprints before accepting them too.