Can You Ever Be Completely In Control of Your Digital Footprint?

Every click, like, and share contributes to the digital footprint we leave behind. And that's not even scratching the surface of how much of our data is on the internet and who can access it. And most of the time, we're permitting them to use it without realizing we can do something about it.

Still, it's not all bad. Companies can use it to improve user experiences and influence our decisions. Although, the latter is somewhat controversial.

So, the question is, can we ever completely control our digital footprint? Read on to find out.

Understanding Your Digital Footprint

Your digital footprint details everything you do online. Did you know that even the incognito tab isn't totally private? Some of you might not want to know that fact.

The websites you visit (even in incognito), the posts you interact with on social media, and even the location data from your devices contribute to this footprint. And we could keep going with that list.

The complexity arises because much of this data collection happens without explicit consent - cookies track your web browsing, apps monitor your interactions, and social platforms analyze your likes and shares. And then there's the issue of people giving consent without reading any of the terms and conditions.

To gain control and remove your information from the internet, you must first understand the breadth of your digital shadow and the mechanisms it uses to record and utilize your data.

The Challenge of Complete Control

Achieving absolute control over your digital footprint is impossible - we'll tell you that. But we'd say you can achieve 90-99% control of it if you remove your data from the internet and take more care with the permissions you're giving companies to use your data.

Why not 100%? For one, the internet has the principle of data exchange -services and content in exchange for your data. Each app download, website visit, or online purchase often means you give up some information about yourself. Even if it's just an email to sign in.

And, even if you decide to limit your digital interactions, information like public records, previous data breaches, and other third-party collections can still leave traces of your digital identity.

Practical Steps to Minimize Your Digital Trail

While total control might be a pipe dream, we've got some effective strategies to minimize your digital footprint:

-Adjust Privacy Settings: Regularly update your privacy settings on social media and other online platforms to limit who can see your information and how they use it.
-Use Privacy-Focused Tools: Use search engines and web browsers that do not track your activity (so they say), like DuckDuckGo or Brave.
-Be Data-Conscious: Become more selective about what information you share online, especially on social media.
-Secure Your Accounts: Use strong, unique passwords for different accounts, enable two-factor authentication, and be wary of phishing attacks and suspicious links. Don't use the same password for every account.

The reality is that, yes, you can never be completely in control of your digital footprint. But you can influence its scope and how people are using it - to an extent. There will always be data privacy and security issues, but that's because hackers are more advanced with their methods than ever. But it doesn't mean you can't have some control over your data. The issue is, most of us don't know how to control it.