Digital Breadcrumbs

We have shared a few examples of how information can be extracted from data (such as in your images). What are other ways humans can leave traces of information with the use of technologies?

Everywhere we go online we are monitored. Websites use ‘cookies’ to track our movements within the site to keep shopping items in our baskets, and to monitor what potential customers spend the most time on. Our viewing and listening history on YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and more are recorded and used to serve ‘targeted advertisements’ to us and are sold to companies to inform their own marketing.

Similar technology is used with ‘rewards cards’, where customers are given discounts or coupons in return for their purchase histories.

Geo-Tagging, or ‘checking in’, at locations allows users to share memories or save significant locations for later use. These can also be used to track the movement of people, especially if such tagging is done often.

Geo-location is also a large component of dating apps, which allow users to ‘see’ others within a certain geographic radius. Again, this can and has been used to track people.

Many workplaces discourage employees from identifying themselves as employees on social media or posting images and videos of themselves in work uniforms or on site.

When screening new applicants, it is common and expected that workplaces will conduct social media searches for anything that may reflect negatively on the company.

Every day our digital footprint grows and it is critical that we, as users of the internet, are aware of what information we are giving out, and to whom.