Module 3: Auditing Your Current Digital Footprint

Step 1: Why Audit Your Digital Footprint Now?

In Modules 1 and 2, you learned that:

• People often meet you online before they meet you in person.
• You defined the core of your personal brand (who you are, what you stand for, and what you want your first impression to say).

Now, in Module 3, you will compare your current online presence to the brand you actually want.

What is a digital footprint?

Your digital footprint is the collection of information about you that can be found online, such as:

• Social media profiles (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
• Posts, comments, likes, tags, and mentions
• Old accounts you forgot about
• School or activity websites that list your name
• Photos or videos you posted (or that others posted of you)

Why this matters in 2026

As of early 2026:

• Colleges, scholarship committees, and many employers routinely search applicants’ names online.
• Many platforms have updated privacy tools in the last 2–3 years (for example, Instagram’s improved privacy controls, TikTok’s changing default settings for younger users, and LinkedIn’s visibility options), so it’s important to re-check what’s public.

This audit helps you:

• See what first impression you’re making right now.
• Find content that is outdated, irrelevant, or risky.
• Set a baseline snapshot so you can measure your progress later.

You’ll go through a simple, structured process:

1. Search for yourself.
2. List your profiles and content.
3. Check for consistency with your personal brand.
4. Clean up and improve your digital hygiene.
5. Capture a “before” snapshot.

Step 2: Self-Google – What Shows Up When They Search You?

You’re going to see yourself from an outsider’s point of view.

Activity: First search

1. Open a browser in incognito/private mode so results are less personalized.
2. In a major search engine (Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo), search:

• `"Your First Name Your Last Name"`
• `"Your First Name Your Last Name" + city` (or school)
• Any usernames you use often (e.g., `@skylar_art`, `@gamerjay99`).

1. Slowly scroll through the first 2 pages of results.

As you scroll, answer these questions in a notebook or notes app:

• What shows up first? (Social media? A team roster? A random person with your same name?)
• How many results are actually about you?
• What 3 words describe the first impression a stranger might get from page 1? (Examples: "athletic, friendly, unfocused" or "serious, academic, invisible".)
• Are there any surprises (old accounts, old comments, photos you forgot about)?

> Write down your answers. You’ll compare them to your brand from Module 2.

If you share a common name:

• Try adding extra info: your school, club, town, or a hobby.
• Notice whether someone else with your name dominates the results. That’s still important—you may need to stand out more later.

Step 3: Quick Check – What Counts as Your Digital Footprint?

Test your understanding of what actually belongs in your digital footprint.

Step 4: Make a Profile & Content Inventory

Now you’ll list every place you show up online. This is your inventory.

Activity: Create your inventory table

Use a notebook, a spreadsheet, or a notes app. Create a simple table like this:

```text

Platform / Site | Handle / Name | Public or Private? | First Impression (3 words) | Keep / Update / Hide

----------------|-----------------------|---------------------|----------------------------|----------------------

Instagram | @example_name | Private | fun, casual, messy | Update

TikTok | @example_name | Public | silly, creative, loud | Keep

Snapchat | username123 | Friends-only | mostly invisible | Keep

YouTube | Example Channel | Public | random, low-effort, old | Hide or Update

LinkedIn | Your Real Name | Public | empty, basic, unfinished | Update

Old Blog | myoldblog.wordpress | Public | outdated, childish | Hide or Delete

```

Steps

1. List every platform you actively use (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X/Twitter, YouTube, Discord servers where you use your real name, LinkedIn, etc.).
2. Add any old accounts you remember (old blogs, gaming profiles with your real name, school websites, online portfolios).
3. For each one, fill in:

• Handle / Name (exact username or profile name)
• Public or Private? (check current setting, not what you think it is)
• First impression (3 words) if a stranger saw it right now.
• Keep / Update / Hide (your first reaction).

You don’t need to change anything yet. You’re just mapping the territory.

Step 5: Compare Your Current Image to Your Brand

Now connect this to Module 2, where you defined your personal brand foundations.

Recall your brand (from Module 2)

You might have written something like:

• Values: curiosity, kindness, reliability
• Goals: get into a STEM program; be seen as creative and responsible
• Target audience: future colleges, teachers, mentors, part-time job managers
• Desired first impression (3–5 words): curious, responsible, creative, kind

Example comparison

Imagine your inventory shows:

• Instagram (@artsy_amy) – Public; first impression: fun, social, random
• TikTok (@artsy_amy) – Public; first impression: chaotic, silly, loud
• YouTube (Amy Draws) – Public; first impression: creative, improving, dedicated
• School robotics page – Public; first impression: technical, serious, committed

But your desired impression is: curious, responsible, creative, kind.

Gaps you might notice:

• Your YouTube and robotics page match your brand well.
• Your TikTok might be too chaotic or immature if colleges or employers see it.
• Your Instagram might be fine for friends, but it doesn’t show your creativity or responsibility.

Your turn

Look at your inventory and answer:

1. Which 1–2 profiles already match your desired brand pretty well?
2. Which 1–2 profiles feel most out of sync with who you want to be seen as?
3. Is there any platform where you don’t appear at all, but probably should (for example, LinkedIn for older high school students)?

Write short notes next to each platform about how well it matches your brand (for example: "60% match – fun and kind, but not very responsible").

Step 6: Spot Outdated, Irrelevant, or Risky Content

Now you’ll zoom in on the content itself.

3 types of content to look for

As you scroll your recent posts, ask:

1. Outdated – No longer represents who you are now.

• Example: A 2019 rant about hating school when you’re now proud of your grades.

1. Irrelevant – Doesn’t hurt you, but doesn’t help your goals.

• Example: Tons of random memes that crowd out your more meaningful posts.

1. Risky – Could damage opportunities or relationships.

• Examples:
• Harsh insults, bullying, or hateful language.
• Jokes about illegal activity, self-harm, or violence.
• Posts that share personal info: full address, school schedule, ID documents.

> Note: What’s considered “risky” can also depend on your country’s laws and school rules. When in doubt, treat it as risky.

Activity: Content scan on one platform

Pick one major platform (Instagram, TikTok, X/Twitter, or another you use a lot):

1. Scroll through your last 30–50 posts (or about 1 year back).
2. For each post, ask:

• Does this support my brand?
• Is it neutral?
• Is it outdated, irrelevant, or risky?

1. Mark each post in your notes:

• ✅ Keep
• ✏️ Update (for example, change caption or visibility)
• 🚫 Remove or hide

You don’t have to take action yet—just label them.

If time allows, repeat this for a second platform.

Step 7: Decide – Keep, Update, or Hide?

Practice judging what to do with different types of posts.

Step 8: Check and Adjust Privacy Settings (Digital Hygiene)

Now you’ll practice digital hygiene—cleaning up and controlling who sees what.

> Platforms change their settings often. As of early 2026, most major platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) offer detailed privacy controls, so it’s worth re-checking them at least once a year.

Activity: Choose ONE platform and do a privacy check

Pick one platform you use a lot. Then:

1. Open Settings → Privacy (names may vary slightly).
2. Look for options like:

• Who can see your posts (public, friends, followers-only).
• Who can tag you or mention you, and whether you must approve tags.
• Who can see your friends list, following/followers, or likes.
• Whether your profile appears in search results (inside the app and in search engines).

1. For each setting, ask:

• Does this match my brand goals (from Module 2)?
• Am I okay with teachers, family, or future colleges/employers seeing this content?

Make at least one change

Examples:

• Switch your personal account to private and create a separate public account for your work, art, or projects.
• Turn on tag review so you approve photos of you before they appear on your profile.
• Limit who can comment or message you to reduce spam or harassment.

Write down:

• The platform you adjusted.
• 1–3 changes you made.
• How those changes help you protect or improve your digital footprint.

Step 9: Capture Your “Before” Snapshot

To see your progress later, you need a baseline—your “before” picture.

Activity: Document your current digital footprint

Create a short audit summary (1 page or less). Include:

1. Search results summary

• What appears on page 1 when you search your name?
• Are the top results you, someone else, or mixed?

1. Top 3 platforms that represent you right now

For each, write:

• Platform + handle
• Public or private
• First impression (3–5 words)

1. Biggest issues you noticed

• Example: "Too many random memes; almost nothing about my interests."
• Example: "Old posts that don’t match who I am now."
• Example: "Important accounts are private, but my silly ones are public."

1. 1–3 priorities for change (for later modules)

• Example: "Clean up old TikToks that feel immature."
• Example: "Make a simple LinkedIn profile that matches my brand."

You can save this summary as:

• A document (Google Docs, Word, etc.)
• A note in your phone
• A photo of your handwritten notes

Label it clearly: `Digital Footprint – BEFORE – [today’s date]` so you can compare it to your “after” later in the course.

Step 10: Key Term Review

Flip through these flashcards to review the most important ideas from this module.