Internet users need to be aware of the good and bad consequences that come from sharing information and creating a digital footprint. It is amazing to find how much personal information is available online and scary to think that even though I control what I put online, there are other organizations that post my personal information without my consent. For example, I was a leader of my church's youth group for a few years and would publish announcements in the church newsletter that is also posted on the church website. In some of those announcements I would include my home and cell phone numbers and now those are available to the public. When I submitted the announcements it never occured to me that the information would be online and everyone has access to it.
It is everyone's job to ensure that beginning internet users learn how to use the internet responsibly. Part of that is understanding what is appropriate and how easy it is for something to become part of one's digital footprint that will have a long term negative impact.
I like how you associated online with "Good" and "Bad". You touched upon a good point, it's all how you use it.
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