Digital Tattoos are Here to Stay

Do you have a tattoo? 

You may be surprised to find you actually do have one. It is not one you can see on your body, but instead one that lives on the Internet. A digital tattoo is information that exists online about you and your activity. Every time you log onto a website and leave a mark, either by leaving a comment, posting a photo, or liking a friend's post, you are adding to your digital tattoo.

A Plethora of Resources 

Because I have previously performed a data mine on myself, this week I chose to explore The University of British Colombia's website called "The Digital Tattoo Project". This project aims to raise awareness about digital tattoos, provide resources to encourage discussion on digital identity, teach digital citizenship, and help readers make informed decisions online.

By taking assessment quizzes, I was linked to pages that had information customized around my answers. One video that was linked to me was about AI self-portraits and how by using certain apps to create these images, I may be allowing that app to use my image in any way they want.  This is concerning because your face can be used to unlock your identity in other applications online. These AI self-portraits become part of my digital tattoo. While these AI applications are fun, it can become a privacy concern. It's important to read the terms of service!

Discovering Myself

I took two quizzes to help analyze my digital activity. This first quiz was to discover what kind of social media user I am. The results stated I fell under the category "The Comedian". 

Photo Source: The University of British Columbia

I do find this to be true because I tend to use social media for entertainment. However, not all jokes are understood online and it can be important to be aware of my digital tattoo and make choices online that I do not regret.  

The second quiz was titled "Is it time for a digital detox?". The questions were about how much time I spend online, my online behavior, and how does being online make me feel. The results stated it was time for me to take a digital detox!  
Photo Source: The University of British Columbia

At first, I was a little surprised by the results. I do not think I am online as much as some of my peers. However, I do realize some of my digital habits are unhealthy, as I always scroll through my phone when I should be sleeping. Being able to have a healthy balance with social media is essential for both mental and physical health.   

Both quizzes made me reflect on my digital identity and digital activity. I recommend checking them out and reflecting on your own practices when it comes to your digital identity.  

What effect does digital tattoos have on students?

Today's youth is growing up online in a very public way. Because they are exposed the Internet at such a young age, it is almost inevitable that they will be posting on social media accounts once they become teenagers. Digital tattoos are permanent. Teachers and librarians have a responsibility to teach children about digital tattoos and help them make smart decisions about their online presence. The last thing we want is a student to not get accepted into their dream college due to online activity they conducted as an adolescent.  
   
One really great tool by The University of British Colombia is they provide facilitating guides for different age levels on discussing digital identity. You can access their slides and modify them to fit your needs. Educators are able to take reliable information and easily share it amongst students. I can see myself using these resources in library programming for teenagers regarding digital privacy and digital citizenship.

Comments

  1. RfrevilleApril 9, 2024 at 5:39 AM

    Hi Mary! First and foremost, reading through this section was really interesting. Previous to this module, I had never heard this subject described as a "Digital Tattoo". To me, it was always a digital footprint. Moving on from that statement, there are so many elements I never thought about when connecting a digital tattoo. Browser and search history, sure, but your mention of the AI portraits and how that can be traced and used, is quite terrifying.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kira HydeApril 9, 2024 at 6:10 AM

    Hey Mary! I think you explained this topic so well and clearly. It's easy to dismiss how much information we put online. I appreciate that you shared your quiz results. I took similar quizzes and was very surprised at the results. I think I routinely underestimate how much time I spend online. The University of British Colombia's resources seem so useful. I think it'd be smart to introduce students to these ideas. Working in a library I would even consider doing a youth program that centered around the quizzes and discussing having a healthy relationship with social media. Also that AI comment is a scary thought!

    ReplyDelete
  3. NMZumpanoApril 10, 2024 at 4:54 PM

    The facilitation guides sound great. Thanks for pointing those out, Mary.

    ReplyDelete
  4. DRomanApril 12, 2024 at 10:08 AM

    Hello Mary,
    Thanks for your detailed explanation of what a digital tattoo is. This week was the first time I learned about what a digital tattoo means and it’s interesting to know that everything we post online stays there forever. It has made me more cautious of what I post and selective of what I want to share with others online. What apps were you referring to about the AI self-portraits? I am concerned about this because like you stated, our face can be used to unlock other apps that contain personal information. I also relate to your results for the second quiz, because I need a digital detox too. I think I am spending too much time scrolling through apps before bed, and I need to put a stop to it because sleep is very important. Lastly, I agree with you that it is important for young children to learn about what a digital tattoo is and the consequences their posts may have when applying to college in the future. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jasmine MonroeApril 13, 2024 at 1:45 PM

    Your explanation of a student not being accepted at their dream school due to something they posted is spot on. It's not just applicable to dream schools, but also to jobs. I've read many instances where someone was fired because someone else dug deep into their social media posts, took screenshots, and shared them. I had never heard the term "digital tattoo" before this class, and I think it's something that would resonate a lot more with today's youth. It should be incorporated into the yearly "How to be a good digital citizen" workshop that schools host.

    ReplyDelete
  6. NityaApril 13, 2024 at 10:09 PM

    Hello Mary!

    Maybe I'm showing my inner grandma here, but it's a bit scary that digital tattoos can be so permanent. The saying "The Internet is forever" is way too accurate.

    I took the digital detox quiz too and got the same results as you! It was a bit surprising, but definitely helpful. (I take classes online, otherwise the addiction would be way less.) In one of the articles, the writer mentioned that Americans spend around 147 minutes each day on social media. That really shocked me,yet somehow it makes sense.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Let's Talk TPACK

Image
Whether it’s video games, laptops, or 3D printers, it’s exciting for both young patrons and myself when technology is introduced into programming. But sometimes, there does feel a disconnect between the content that is being explored and the technology that is being used. Using the TPACK model, I can evaluate both my programs and myself to better integrate technology into library services. Understanding TPACK TPACK is a model to provide educators with a framework on how to integrate technology into a classroom effectively. Educators need to master three areas of knowledge: Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) to successfully use educational technology.  Technological knowledge is understanding what technological tools to use to support students . Pedagogical   knowledge  is selecting the correct teaching methods for a lesson.  Content knowledge refers to the subject matter or information that is being taught. ...
Read more

The Great Data Mine

Image
Image Source : Giphy This week, I felt like a private investigator as I examined my digital tattoo. A digital tattoo is the information about you that exists online. This includes information that you post online, your online activity, and things others post online about you. I did a deep dive and performed a data mine to search for information about myself. I didn't expect to find much information, as I have most of my social media accounts on private. That being said, I was eager to what was out there! The Data Mine First, I began with a simple Google search of my name and my location (Chicago), using the Safari browser. I had over 103,000,000 results. Because I have such a common name, I realized I was going to have to use more limiters to help narrow down the search. I decided to include my zip code in the search. This resulted in 71,000 results. There were two matches on the first page of results. One was my grandmother's obituary from 2013 on the Chicago Sun Times websit...
Read more

Exploring Accessibility in Technology

Image
This week, I explored the topic of accessibility, and how it is applied in library settings.  Accessibility means that a person with a disability is given the same opportunity to gain knowledge, engage in the same environment, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability, with similar ease of use. When it comes to the library, I firmly believe that every patron in the library should be given the same quality of service.  It is up to the librarian to tailor the reference process to the patron's needs.  In some cases, that means we have to provide accessibility tools to assist patrons in their search for books and  resources . Accessibility Tools When older patrons come into my library, they often seek help using their Kindles, iPads, or E-Readers. Sometimes, it takes a while to walk them through it, instruct them how to download the Libby app, and connect their library cards. That being said, it is always rewarding because they are always so grat...
Read more