We spend a ton of our lives online — checking out VK, binge-watching YouTube, studying on all those online platforms, or just chatting with our buddies. The internet is where we learn, connect, and chill. But have you ever thought about the invisible trail you leave behind every time you hop online? That trail is your digital footprint, and even though it might seem no big deal, it can actually show way more about you than you think. So, I got kinda curious about how much students share online, and I thought I'd check it out. I also chatted with some of my university friends about what they do online, and honestly, what I found out was pretty surprising.

What is a digital footprint?

A digital footprint is similar to the shadow you leave on the internet — it's the trail of data you leave behind when you access digital services. There are two kinds of footprints:

Active footprints: These are the things you do intentionally, such as posting a selfie, tweeting your opinion, or completing an online form.

Passive footprints: These are more subtle, as they occur without you even being aware. Your location information, IP address, browser history, and cookies are in this category.

Whereas active footprints are conspicuous — you're aware when you post something online — passive footprints tend to go unnoticed. For instance, most websites employ third-party trackers that log where you click, what you search for, and even how much time you linger on a page. By the time you realize it, companies have created a profile of you for advertising purposes. Creepy, isn't it?

Ways in which students create digital footprints unknowingly

Students, more than perhaps any other demographic, spend hours a day online — for learning, recreation, and socialization. But in this process, we tend to leave behind a staggering amount of personal information. Some of the usual ways we do this include:

• Accepting cookies on websites without reading the privacy policie;.
• Utilizing social media applications that have real-time location tagging;
• Downloading free apps that request far too many permissions;
• Signing up for websites using your pre-existing accounts.

Individually, these activities seem trivial, but collectively they amount to a comprehensive digital profile that can be stored, analyzed, or even sold.

What students say: a brief survey

To determine the level of awareness among students about these dangers, I conducted a limited online survey among 35 first-year IT and engineering students at my university. The findings were revealing.

These answers show a massive disconnect between students' online knowledge and their own online lives. We all believe we're digitally smart, but when it comes to guarding our privacy, we tend to neglect even simple safeguards.

Why oversharing online is risky

You may ask — so what if strangers or companies can view a bit of my data? What's the worst that could happen? Sadly, the threats are all too real:

• Targeted advertising: your browsing habits are continuously monitored to build very targeted ad profiles;
• Data breaches: apps and platforms storing personal data can experience data breaches, revealing sensitive information;
• Identity theft: using sufficient personal data, intruders can pose as you;
• Cyberbullying and doxxing: oversharing on social media can make you a target;
• Profiling and discrimination: institutions or employers can judge you based on your activity online.

Essentially, the more you leak, the simpler it is for other people to take that information and use it against you.

How you can take control of your digital footprint

The good news is that guarding yourself online does not require you to leave the internet. Rather, it's a matter of developing small yet effective habits that limit unnecessary exposure:

1. Use private browsers such as DuckDuckGo or Brave.
2. Install tracker-blocking extensions like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger.
3. Periodically check and renew app permissions — turn off access to your location, camera, or microphone if it is not really required.
4. Avoid using social logins (like "Sign in with Google") when creating new accounts
5. Think before you post. Once online, your materials can be assumed to be saved, shared, or screenshotted indefinitely.
6. These actions aren't complex, but they can go a long way to safeguarding your online identity.

Final thoughts

Our generation basically lives on the internet. We study, play, and chat through all these digital platforms, so we're always leaving bits of personal info behind. But, like my survey shows, a lot of students don’t even realize how much they're putting out there.

The reality is, digital hygiene is as critical as personal hygiene. It's a matter of being thoughtful about your practices and making minor adjustments that together equal better protection. In a landscape where "free" services nearly always have the price of your data, managing your digital footprint isn't a choice — it's a necessity.

The next time you're going to just click yes on those cookie notices, take a moment to consider it. Ask yourself: Do I really want to leave this trail behind? Since once your footprint is out there, you can't always take it back.