You scroll, you tap, you like, you forward. Right; Harmless? not quite. Every one of those tiny occurrences remains like Digital Footprints in wet cement—quiet, undetectable, but remarkably durable.
Let me speak, not sugarcoat it. People are seeing your internet behavior. Not by a dark shadow in a trench coat, but by algorithms, trackers, and companies aware of your sleep pattern rather than your greatest buddy. And all you did at two in a.m. was sort socks.
Once purchased one item online, the advertisements started swarming like bunnies. There is no coincidence about that. The system has you labeled. Now you are the “cozy wool socks”. And suppose you linger on a page on sourdough bread too long? You find baking to be quite fascinating today. Holidays.
It transcends only value for purchase. Your non-click behavior, scrolling speed, picture pause time all matter. That information presents a picture of you more precisely calibrated than your driver’s license. Strange? Minor. Fantastic! That is not how it should be.
And not only are grownups involved here. Young people’s digital footprints are growing before they ever start kindergarten. Online classes, games, apps—all of which set little backgrounds. They are in it all the same even if they registered for none.
Ever find it strange why a weather software wants access to your microphone? Alternatively why would a flashlight need your location? Indeed. That has nothing to do with a more exact forecast or better lighting. It is about compiling further components of your digital identity.
And after that? Go completely off-grid hermit? Not necessary. But stop allowing automatic acceptance of rights. Give up on the externally supplied tests. Give apps less access than you would a nosy neighbor would demand. Look for something like a missing pet using a search engine other than your chosen one. Little choices might have more benefits than you could possibly imagine.
On the internet, one cannot be invisible. You also do not have to be an open book either. Cut the extra off right here. Look at the settings. And perhaps keep other parts of yourself off-line as well. Your chosen snack at three in the morning is not of interest to the internet.