As one of the final assignments in this course, I am doing a second vanity search to track how my digital footprint has evolved due to the numerous activities we have performed in the Web 2.0 space. Since my initial vanity search (see ETEC 527 - Initial Vanity Search) revealed that I have established a rather large and frighteningly detailed digital footprint, it is not surprising that little has changed with respect to my inadvertent, passive revealing of personal information.
What did change is the level and volume of information I proactively decided I want people to find. To share what I mean, I have included an updated log of my vanity search below with areas that have been impacted highlighted in yellow. As one can see, my proactive actions enhanced the public visibility, both generally and to targeted audiences, for
for my YouTube channel, videos, playlists, and subscriptions; my LinkedIn in-depth profile; my blog posts posts through Wix.com at https://www.inquisitio-veritatis.com/; my Twitter tweets (especially to my hashtags and lists); and my Pinterest pins and curated pin collections. Notably, I have elected to keep my Facebook as a more limited, less public social media channel; wish me luck. Although my initial vanity search indicated considerable unintended, non-directed information leakage, proactive cultivation of curated targeted information flow does work at getting the word I desire to get out to those I wish to reach and does little to worsen the unintentional information leakage. Of course, I am now more aware of the "ethical hackers" who mine and cross tabulate every scrap of information on the web; so, unless I go completely dark on social media, I should presume every piece of information could come back on me if someone with skills and malicious intent wished to target me personally.
This brings me to my reflection for this final vanity search. Unless one elects to go "off the grid" and one ceases to interact offline with others with a presence on the web, then one's digital footprint will inevitably grow. I do mean to imply that there is really no going back on the digital footprint one has already established, and one also has little control of the many entities private, commercial, and governmental that will bandy about one's information on the web whether one likes it or not. In effect, the "costs" of living in a highly connected technological society and world, at least at some threshold level, are practically unavoidable. If the cost is being incurred, then I say one should work at racking up some offsetting benefits. Therefore, I choose to make my presence known and to take control, such as I may, of shaping my digital footprint. My takeaway's are be thoughtful, be proactive, and leverage the power of the web, especially by flexing the muscles of Web 2.0 tools for education; passive no more, I go forth to take up the challenge.
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