Digital Footprints by Madden, Fox, Smith, Vitak

"Digital Footprints" is a Pew Internet Report that analysis users' awareness of online accessibility to their personal information. In the age of Web 2.0, name, address, and phone number are now common personal information that is easily available online. I remember a time when the only source for locating people was through the phone book, which reminds me of a scene from "The Jerk." I found the clip, although the quality is not very good and it is rather long. Here it is:

via videosift.com
Now I don't think anyone got that excited about having their name in the phone book, but before the web that was our only source for locating people.

Today, internet users provide vast amounts of personal information about themselves. Users' personal text, photos, and videos are now readily available online. The study defines individuals’ level of online privacy concerns into four categories: "Confident Creatives" make up 17% of users. They are not concerned about uploading personal information to the web, but they do take steps to limit personal information. 21% of users are "Concerned and Careful." They actively limit their online data. 18% of users are "Worried by the Wasteside." They are anxious about their personal information being publicly available, but do not actively prevent this information from being on the web. Finally, "Unfazed and Inactive" are the largest user group at 43%. This group does not worry about their personal information being online nor do they limit this information from being available.

It's somewhat surprising that the majority of users are not concerned that personal information is available for public consumption. 60% of users are not concerned about their personal information being available online, and 61% of adults do not limit the amount of personal information available about them online. Only 38% say they have taken steps to limit the amount of online information that is available about them.

Internet users are now becoming savvier about finding their personal information. 47% of users have become aware of their digital footprint via search engines, and more than half of all users have searched for other users online.

Today, in the landscape of Web 2.0 internet users must become more cognizant about their digital footprint. Providing personal information for public consumption is an acceptable norm, but users’ online information must maintain a level of professionalism. By offering personal information freely on the Internet, individuals are providing friends, colleagues, potential employers, etc. the opportunity to see into their personal lives. Anyone who uses the web for social networking, blogging, etc. must always remember this, so they can control the public's perception of them.