Take Charge of Your Online Reputation

ALSO: Your Digital Footprint: What It Is, Why It Matters & How to Manage It

Author

Ijeoma Ndu
July 31, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Dear Techies,

Every time you scroll, click, post, or shop online, you leave tiny traces behind, like digital footprints in the sand. These footprints help shape how others see you online, from employers and lenders to marketers and even potential clients.

If that sounds a little overwhelming, don’t worry. Today’s guide will help you understand what your digital footprint is and how to take control of it without needing a tech degree or spending hours digging through old accounts.

Let’s walk through it step-by-step.

What Is a Digital Footprint?

Think of your digital footprint like your online reputation. It is everything the internet knows or thinks it knows about you.

There are two main types of digital footprints:

🟣 Active footprint: Information you’ve shared yourself, like:

  • Social media posts

  • Comments on blogs or videos

  • Online forms you have filled out

🟡 Passive footprint: Info collected behind the scenes, such as:

  • Your location when you visit websites

  • Browsing history saved by cookies

  • Apps tracking how often you use them

☝️ Both types matter. Together, they influence things like:

  • Hiring decisions

  • Loan approvals

  • Which ads or scams target you

  • Your overall privacy and personal safety

Now that you know what it is, let’s start taking control.

How to Clean Up and Manage Your Digital Footprint

Step 1: See What is Out There

  • Google yourself (including nicknames or usernames). What pops up?

  • Review your profiles on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X (Twitter). Are they private?

  • Revisit old accounts. Think of forums, dated blogs, or platforms like Tumblr. Are they still relevant? If not, time to deactivate.

  • If you live in the US, use sites like Spokeo or Whitepages to see what third-party data exists. Many allow opt-outs.

Step 2: Clean Up and Clear Out

  • Delete or deactivate accounts you no longer use. Out of sight, out of search engines.

  • Contact site owners about removing outdated or sensitive info.

  • Update privacy settings and edit or archive old social posts that don’t represent who you are today.

Step 3: Be Mindful Going Forward

  • Share thoughtfully. Avoid posting personal info like:

    • Full birthdates

    • Travel plans

    • Home addresses or phone numbers

  • Use strong privacy settings on all apps and platforms.

  • Separate personal and professional accounts.

  • Try a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to cut down behind-the-scenes tracking.

  • When visiting websites, skip "Accept All" and instead decline non-essential cookies when offered.

Step 4: Set It and Forget It (Well… Almost)

Digital cleanup isn’t a one-time project. But it doesn’t require constant effort either.

🎯 Try these low-maintenance habits:

  • Set up a Google Alert for your name

  • Check your privacy settings every few months

  • Add a twice-yearly “Digital Cleanup” reminder to your calendar

Real-Life Scenarios

Sometimes it helps to see this in action:

✔️ Emily applied for a job in marketing. But old, inappropriate tweets surfaced when the company Googled her. They moved on to another candidate.

→ Takeaway: Clean up what’s visible under your name online.

✔️ James downloaded a fitness app without checking its settings. Suddenly, he was bombarded with ads about supplements. Turns out, the app sold his location data.

→ Takeaway: Always check what data your apps can access.

✔️ Sara forgot about a comment she made on a public forum years ago until a client brought it up in a meeting.

→ Takeaway: Old, forgotten accounts can come back to haunt you. Clean out what doesn’t serve you.

❌ Common Digital Footprint Mistakes

Here are a few “whoops” moments we see often and how you can outsmart them:

  • Leaving social media profiles fully public

  • Using the same username everywhere (makes it easy to track you)

  • Staying logged in on shared devices

  • Oversharing milestones (like your new house or car)

  • Clicking “Agree” without reviewing settings

✅ Next Steps You Can Take Today

  • Make a list of accounts and platforms you use regularly

  • Create a clean, professional email for job hunting or networking

  • Try privacy-first tools like DuckDuckGo (search engine) or Brave (browser)

  • Help a friend or family member do this too (digital safety is better shared!)

Remember: Taking control of your digital footprint isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being intentional. By tweaking a few habits and checking in every so often, you’ll keep your online presence safe, smart, and aligned with how you want to show up in the world.

You've got this ✨

Your Tech Partner,
Ijeoma Ndu, PhD

P.S. Did you know I wrote a book? Tech Savvy Starts Here is available on Amazon—a practical, engaging guide for families and educators helping kids build confidence with technology. Check it out here.

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