Digital Footprint
What is a digital footprint?
The information about you that exists online because of what you post, share, search, comment on, or interact with.
What is one reason people might post things online that they wouldn't say in person?
They may feel less embarrassed, more anonymous, pressured, or disconnected from the person reading it.
Should you share your password with an online friend?
Nooooo
About what percentage of U.S. teens ages 13–17 use social media?
95%
A friend sends you a suspicious link and says, “Click it! It's funny.” What should you do?
Don't click it. Verify what it is first or delete/report it.
True or False: Deleting a post always means nobody can see it anymore.
False. Someone could have screenshotted, saved, or shared it.
What is FOMO?
Fear of missing out.
Name two pieces of information you should be careful about sharing online.
Address, school location, phone number, passwords, location, private photos, personal information, etc.
What percentage of teen girls said social media hurts their sleep?
50%. Among teen boys, it was 40%.
Someone you don't know sends you a friend request and immediately starts asking where you go to school. What should you do?
Don't provide personal information. Block/report them and tell a trusted adult if needed.
Name two things that can become part of your digital footprint.
Photos, comments, videos, usernames, likes, posts, messages, etc.
Why can comparing yourself to people online be misleading?
People often show selected or edited parts of their lives rather than everything that is happening.
What should you do if someone online asks you to keep your conversations secret from adults?
Recognize it as a warning sign and tell a trusted adult.
About what percentage of teens say they at least sometimes get mental-health information from social media?
34%
Your friend posts an embarrassing picture of you without asking. What could you do?
Ask them to remove it, report the post if appropriate, and involve a trusted adult if they refuse or the situation becomes harmful.
Why might something you post today matter years from now?
It could be saved or shared and potentially seen by future schools, employers, coaches, or other people.
Someone keeps viewing your stories but never interacts with you. Does that automatically mean something is wrong?
No. You cannot know someone's intentions based only on online behavior.
Someone you met online says, “Send me a picture or I'll stop talking to you.” What is this?
Pressure/manipulation. You do not owe them a picture. Stop responding, block/report them, and tell a trusted adult.
What percentage of U.S. teens said social media hurts their mental health?
1 in 5
Someone online says they are your age, but they want to move the conversation to a private app and don't want anyone else to know. What are the red flags?
Before posting something, name three questions you could ask yourself.
What is one sign that social media may be negatively affecting your well-being?
Examples include constantly checking it, feeling worse after using it, losing sleep, comparing yourself to others, or feeling unable to take a break.
What should you do if someone online is making you feel uncomfortable?
Block, report, tell
Is social media always bad for mental health?
No. 74% of teens in Pew's 2024 survey said social media makes them feel more connected to their friends, and 63% said it gives them a place to show their creativity
You receive a message saying, “If you don't send me a picture, I'm going to show everyone the pictures I already have.” What should you do?
Don't send more pictures. Save evidence, stop engaging, block/report the person, and tell a trusted adult immediately.