Digital Footprints and how to create an effective online presence

Over the last decade we have seen social media become embedded in our day to day lives, living with the realities of sharing our experiences, being able to instantly live stream from our phones, podcasting our work or hobbies, hashtagging our comments, etc. We are experiencing both positive and negative effects of living with a “digital footprint” that is simultaneously becoming more ephemeral and more permanently available.

It can be comforting and empowering to understanding the implications of inhabiting these digital spaces, how to manage your data and curate an effective online presence. Based on our research in this area, the University of Edinburgh has developed a range of open educational resources (OERs CC BY), including workshops, lectures, and the Digital Footprint MOOC (Massive Open Online Course). These resources enable students, staff and the wider public to consider how they can create an effective online identity and manage online tracks and traces (digital footprint).

This article provides an insight into our work, our MOOC, and offers some practical advice, for information professionals, on managing a beneficial online presence.