At BSM, most students have always been accustomed to the prevalence of technology in daily life. From smartphones, to social media, and personal laptops at school, a sense of familiarity with the internet and media is common. Because of this, it is easy to misjudge the dangers that are rampant online.With so much information stored on the Internet, this commonly leaves people vulnerable and prone to scams or information theft.

While students may not know the extent of this possibility in their own use of technology, staying safe and aware online is important. “Sometimes I worry that some students are a little too careless with personal passwords and with information they provide to unsolicited emails, or by accepting random AirDrops,” Library Media Specialist Ms. Laura Sylvester said.

It is also easy to be completely unaware of the information that is being transmitted or given away without permission or previous knowledge. A lack of privacy settings on phones or computers can leave many open to outside sources. “Check privacy settings on your smart phones and your social media accounts and apps you use.  There is a lot of information you may be giving away without even knowing it,” Sylvester said.

Another important aspect to internet safety is password protection. Passwords that are short, repetitive, or easily guessed can leave internet-users prone to dangerous entities. “The current advice is to use longer passwords or passphrases,” Sylvester said.

While various scams and hackers can pose a danger to internet users, it is equally important to self-monitor the content posted on social media and various websites. Because the internet is so easily accessible, information available on the internet is permanent; this is known as a digital footprint. It is imperative to filter personal content online, as future employers and others can easily access this information. “The idea of a “digital footprint” (also referred to as a “digital tattoo”) is anything you (or someone else) put online that is permanent––it doesn’t go away and can be found by others (whether you want others to find it or not).  It may be friends, family, or classmates that see online posts, but it can also be colleges and future employers,” Sylvester said.

With the widespread presence of media and the internet, it is important to stay educated about internet safety and digital footprints. “There’s a THINK acronym that is helpful to remember:  Is it True? Is it Helpful? Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind?” Sylvester said.