Clicks to career: Unveiling impact of your digital footprint

Be aware of your digital footprint, sharing online doesn’t come for free. Check out how it impacts your career. To check your digital footprint, search yourself in the browser.

Digital footprint is one of the less talked about topics that many people are not aware of. Moreover, the current internet culture of Nepal is prone to have a negative digital footprint. Whenever you use the internet, you leave behind a trail of data and information about your activities on the internet, such information is known as your digital footprint. It includes records, traces and data generated by interactions online, including social media posts, website visits, online purchases, search engine queries, and other online interactions like sharing posts, status, and reactions in social media. 

One should be concerned about their digital footprint as they are relatively permanent and impossible to delete it completely. It determines a person’s digital reputation, status and personality which is equally considered as important as their offline reputation. The worst case scenario would be exploitation of your digital footprint for cybercrimes such as phishing, identity theft and so on. In 2019, USA required individuals applying for a visa to provide their usernames or “identifiers” for several common social media platforms used in past five years.

Impact on employment

Moreover, Digital footprint undoubtedly impacts on once career in aspect of employment, admission and visa processing. Employers can check their potential employees’ digital footprints, particularly their social media, before making hiring decisions. This practice can be widely found in big corporate offices, Multinational companies and foreign institutes. According to Gitnux, 57 percent of recruiters take a candidate’s digital footprint into consideration in their hiring process. A person who regularly posts offensive or unprofessional comments on social media is seen as lacking in judgment and maturity. Similarly, images depicting irresponsible behavior or participation in controversial activities can create a negative impression on potential employees. 

Impact on University admission 

Universities check their applicants’ digital footprints before accepting them too. With single-digit admissions, Harvard University in Massachusetts is one of the toughest schools to get into. But in recent years, some students who passed that high bar have been cut off from admission before they even stepped foot on campus. The reason: inappropriate social media posts. Especially in the context of scholarship Kalpan’s Survey found that around 65 percent of admission officers check digital footprints. Engaging in inappropriate comments, derogatory language, or illegal behavior can raise concerns about an individual’s character and fit into the university community. Admissions officers aim to select students who reflect the institution’s values, and problematic digital skills can be a red flag in the screening process.

In the context of Nepal, the practice of checking digital footprint is increasing rapidly. The impact of digital footprint on job opportunities and university admissions cannot be underestimated. It is important for individuals to realize that their online activity and content can have a long-term impact on their future prospects. By actively monitoring and nurturing their digital presence, individuals can leverage their digital footprint to gain advantage.

Manish Khadka 

IIIrd Year

Kathmandu School of Law