A digital footprint is a cache of data documenting your internet history. It is an online track record accounting for every offensive social media post and “Congratulations!” message on LinkedIn.

Much like your carbon footprint, a poor digital footprint leaves a lasting and polluting impact. The term gets a bad rap, as your mind may immediately go to regrettable videos and photos created in the past — haunting you forever. However, if used proactively, your digital footprint can benefit you.  

Students do not have to stay away from social media. Daphne Wolfe, assistant director for career management at UT, said that having a LinkedIn profile is a low maintenance way of being online but not risking sharing too much.

“I’ve seen employers finding it a little strange when they are doing a digital background check on people and they can’t find anything about them,” Wolfe said.  “That’s a little bit of a red flag to employers when they can’t find any trace of you online.”

Presenting yourself professionally can have a major impact on whether employers foresee you working with their team. Having an appropriate social media account is important as an undergraduate student when you are seeking internship and career opportunities, and the ability to market yourself online is necessary for recruiters to determine if you fit the company’s culture. 

“(Employers) want to see you as a person,” Wolfe said. “They want to see if you are matching what you’re putting in your job application, resume, your cover letter and your LinkedIn profile. They want to see that you are a well-rounded person who has interests outside of your work and professional identity.”

As times change, social media is becoming more prevalent in a variety of industries from business to healthcare. A digital footprint can have a positive impact regardless of your major. Even if you are a nursing or pre-medicine student, having an online profile can demonstrate reliability and drive. 

Furthermore, a clean digital footprint involves not posting images with alcoholic drinks when you are underage or photos you wouldn’t show your grandmother. It is in your best interest to avoid explicit photos, especially for students still unsure of their future career path. 

“That’s probably the most common one that (employers) would see, underage drinking,” Wolfe said.
“That would be the one thing that I would really caution against having on your social media.”

For those who recreationally use TikTok and Instagram, we see influencers getting “canceled” far too often for photos and videos from their past. Even though most students aren’t handing out 10% discount codes for trendy brands, getting blacklisted by a recruiter is still a real possibility. 

Although they may not think much about their digital footprint now, it is important for students to understand the repercussions of irresponsible posting. Karissa Lew, an advertising junior, is a social media ambassador with @BeALonghorn, the Instagram account for UT’s Office of Admissions.

“As you start using social media, as far as your digital footprint, I would just advise you to keep it clean,” Lew said. “Don’t post videos of you drinking (underage) or captions with curse words in it. It’ll be fun for now, and it might be fun for maybe a week, but long-term, it might affect the way employers view you.” 

Careful planning and posting can avoid having resumes thrown out. Next time you think about posting yourself underage with an alcoholic beverage, partaking in criminal activity or disrespecting others, think about your future. 

Shenoy is an economics junior from Houston, Texas.