Episode 1: Sharing Info Online: Is It Safe?

Welcome to our deep dive into the world of digital privacy with insights from the episode “Digital Dominoes: Is it Okay to Share My Information Online?” In this episode, we discuss the complexities of participating in the online world, the concept of digital identity, and the essential precautions one should take online. We take a look at it from the fresh perspective of Stella, a young digital navigator, alongside the expert insights of privacy evangelist John Cavanaugh, alias Jet Haze, and, Angeline Corvaglia, a.k.a. Data Girlour host and mother on a mission to make the digital world a safer place.

Exploring the Digital World

With the continuous expansion of the digital world, understanding the significance of what we do and share online is more crucial than ever. Each swipe and click leaves a trace, contributing to our online experience. But what exactly is the “digital world”? As Angeline explains to Stella, you enter the digital world whenever you connect your device to the internet. As John explains to Stella, it also doesn’t stop here. Once you start creating your digital footprint, your online identity is also created. With so much of our daily life linked to online activities, this has become an extension of who we are.

Deciding What to Share

The discussion then turns to what to think about when deciding between using a real name and remaining anonymous in online interactions. When Stella says that she is not using her real name and Angeline and John point out that they are, the group digs into the difference between their situations and why that matters. John points out the potential dangers of full name disclosure online, especially for younger children. Many people online will take advantage of any information they can get about a person. People can also be subjected to bullying based on what you have shared online. So John points out that a significant factor in deciding whether or not to share details such as real names is one’s ability to deal with those types of people.

The Everlasting Impact of a Digital Footprint

The discussion then moves to a deeper discussion of our “digital footprint,” which is a lasting record of the information we share online. With Stella’s help, Angeline describes it with this concept: everything shared online is like writing in permanent ink, and digital mistakes can’t be torn up and thrown away as paper can. In addition, digital footprints are traceable, and sophisticated AI can assemble data to create a view of who you are. Stella says, “The things you put online are just like little puzzle pieces, and AI puts those puzzle pieces together.” John then points out that our digital footprints are also shared between different apps. They can be used to create content bubbles if we’re not aware that everyone online sees different things.

Understanding Online Safety and Privacy

In the episode’s final segment, Stella is asked to give us her takeaways from the discussion. Her advice is refreshingly straightforward: if you’re little, don’t share anything; if you’re older, only share details about yourself with people you know. That can seem like an oversimplified explanation. In the case of online privacy, starting from a bit of oversimplification and treating sharing information as an exception is a good place to start. Embracing these basic lessons about the online world helps us as we, and the digital dominoes we set in motion, continue to evolve. We can ensure our digital activities are done responsibly and safely with them.

Thanks for your interest in the topics we are discussing! Stay tuned for upcoming episodes as we continue to shed light on making the digital community a safe, better place for everyone.

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