Youths (under 18)
Manage Your Digital Footprint to Prevent Online Harms
Staying safe online
Navigating online risks
Everything you do online, from posting on social media to visiting websites, creates a digital footprint that follows you over time. Learn how you can manage your digital footprint to stay safer online and reduce the risks of online harms such as stalking, doxxing and impersonation.
What is a digital footprint?
Your digital footprint is the trail of information you leave behind when you go online. This includes what others post about you.
Examples of what builds a digital footprint include:
Text messages
Photos or videos posted on social media
Comments, reactions or messages online
Content where you are tagged by others
Usernames used across platforms
Search and browsing history, even in "Incognito" mode
Why is it important to manage your digital footprint?
Once something is shared online, others can copy, edit or save it. Even if you delete it later, it may still exist through screenshots, reposts or saved copies.
Your digital footprint can shape how people see and treat you in real life, which may affect your reputation and wellbeing. It may also affect future opportunities, such as school admissions, scholarships, or even jobs. Over time, your digital footprint can also reveal more about your life than you intended, increasing your risk of online harms.
For example:
Online stalking may occur when someone repeatedly makes or tries to make unwanted contact with you
Doxxing may occur when someone shares your identity information online
Impersonation may occur when someone pretends to be you using your photos or details
Managing your digital footprint does not remove all risks, but it helps you stay more in control of what others can find out about you.
How can you protect your digital footprint?
Check what is already online
Search your name, usernames, or photos to see what others can find
Delete or update content that reveals too much personal data
Review your privacy settings
Go through your privacy settings on social media, apps, and devices
Set your accounts to private where possible
Manage who can see your posts, contact you, or tag you
Be careful about who you accept as friends or followers
Be mindful about what you share
Avoid sharing personal details like your full name, school, location, daily routines, or contact information
Check photos and videos before posting as they can reveal more than you expect, such as your appearance, location, school, hobbies or people you know, especially through backgrounds, uniforms and other visible details
T.H.I.N.K. before sharing, ask yourself if the content is True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, and Kind
Consider how your posts might affect your reputation or relationships
What should you do in these situations?
You posted something a while ago that you now regret. What should you do?
It is okay to change your mind after posting something. What you do next matters.
Delete or archive the post to stop it from spreading
Ask others to stop sharing it and to delete or archive their posts if they have shared it
Pause and think before you post next time
Talk to a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher or counsellor, if the situation feels stressful
Your friend posted a photo of you and tagged your location without asking. What should you do?
Even if your friend meant no harm, this can expose your personal data.
Politely ask your friend to remove the post or location tag
Untag yourself from the post
Adjust your settings to review tags before they appear on your profile
Let your friend know what you are comfortable sharing online
If the post is not removed and you believe it could harm you, you can:
If the platform does not act on your report and you believe you have been doxxed, report to the OSC
Reach out to a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher or counsellor, for support and guidance
Managing your digital footprint is an ongoing process. By being mindful of what you share, reviewing your settings, and thinking before you post, you can stay in control of your information. These actions can help you stay safe online.