PROFILE
PROFILE

How does our digital footprint influence the way others perceive us, both positively and negatively?

Data that contributes to building our digital image may include social media posts, purchases on different platforms, or location records; all of this is stored and shapes who we are within digital networks. As Wilton & Richardson explain, even everyday actions such as “liking” a post or visiting a website contribute to a digital portrait that is far more public than we often imagine (Wilton & Richardson, 2024).

Despite this, most people remain unaware of how much information is recorded with each action taken. In a study on perceptions of digital privacy, many participants stated that they had never considered how their online behavior was monitored and logged (Perceptions of Digital Footprints, 2017).

Each of these data points is not only stored but also bought and sold through data brokers who operate behind users’ backs, without their awareness (Reviglio, 2022). The work of these intermediaries, when left unchecked, amplifies users’ privacy risks, since this information is used to create profiles and commercialize their data with other companies.

An alarming point is that even very short browsing histories can uniquely identify individuals. Research conducted by Cornell University in New York shows that just a few visited domains are enough to re-identify 95% of users (Oliveira et al., 2023). This means that anonymity hangs by a very thin thread, and the aggregation of seemingly harmless fragments of data reveals far more information than expected.

Given these conditions, it is essential to act consciously. Strategies such as adjusting privacy settings, enabling multifactor authentication, and periodically clearing search records can help. According to Morgan Stanley, a multinational American financial company, practices such as restricting application permissions, searching for your own name online, and using password managers can reduce exposure and help maintain a greater level of anonymity (Morgan Stanley, 2023).

A digital footprint speaks more loudly than expected: it shapes how others perceive us, influences hiring or admission decisions, and has lasting consequences. Being aware of this and putting privacy strategies into practice allows us to regain, to some extent, control over the use and distribution of our searches and online activities.