Social Media & Privacy
Control your digital footprint and protect your personal information online
Your Digital Footprint
Every like, post, comment, and photo you share creates a permanent digital trail. This is your digital footprint - the collection of data that exists about you online. Once something is posted, it can be screenshot, shared, and saved forever, even if you delete it!
Two Types of Footprints:
- Active: What YOU post - photos, comments, status updates, videos
- Passive: What's collected ABOUT you - cookies, location data, browsing history, app usage
🔍 Digital Footprint Checker
See what information you might be exposing online. Click each category to reveal details!
Social Media Posts
Location Data
Personal Information
Tracking & Cookies
💡 Your Digital Footprint Never Disappears
College admissions officers, future employers, and anyone else can search for you online. Think before you post!
📲 Interactive Privacy Settings Simulator
Adjust these privacy settings to see how they protect your information. Green = More Private!
Privacy Score
Very Weak
Who can see your profile and posts?
Share your location in posts?
Who can tag you in photos?
Who can see your email/phone?
Let search engines find your profile?
🎯 Recommendations
- Adjust your settings above to get personalized recommendations!
What Apps Really Collect
When you install an app, you often grant permissions without reading them. Here's what popular apps can access:
Oversharing Dangers
Think twice before posting these things publicly:
Posting "Home alone this weekend!" tells burglars when to strike
Wait until you're home to post - don't advertise an empty house
Driver's license, student ID, tickets - contain info for identity theft
Never post credit cards, bank statements, or purchase receipts
"My password is my dog's name!" - now hackers know what to try
"At school 8-3, then soccer until 6" - predictable patterns are risky
Social Media Privacy Checklist
Go through your actual accounts and complete these steps:
The "Would You Post This?" Quiz
For each scenario, decide: Should you post this publicly?
📸 Photo of your new student ID with school name visible
🎉 "Can't wait for prom next Saturday at 7pm!"
🏠 "House sitting for the Johnsons at 123 Maple Street while they're on vacation"
Remember: The Internet is Forever
The 10-Year Rule: Before posting anything, ask yourself: "Would I want my future employer, college admissions officer, or family to see this 10 years from now?"
If the answer is no, don't post it!
- ✅ Think before you post
- ✅ Adjust privacy settings regularly
- ✅ Google yourself periodically
- ✅ Be kind online (it's permanent!)
- ✅ Report and block harassment