Permanent vs. Temporary: Understanding Online Content

Learning Objectives Define 'digital footprint' using a simple analogy. Differentiate between a permanent online action and a temporary one. Explain that deleting content does not always mean it is gone forever. Identify two ways online information can be saved by others (e.g., screenshots, server copies). Trace the path of a posted photo as a piece of data. Apply the 'Think Before You Click' rule to a real-world scenario. Have you ever tried to erase a drawing made with a permanent marker? 🖍️ What happens when you post something online? Today, we are going to be Digital Footprint Detectives! We will learn how the things we do online can be permanent, like a marker, or temporary, like a pencil. Understanding this helps us make smart and safe choices on th...

TermDefinitionExample Digital FootprintThe trail of digital 'footprints' you leave behind every time you go online. It's made of all the data from your clicks, posts, and messages.Liking a video, posting a photo of your pet, and playing an online game all add to your digital footprint. PermanentSomething that lasts forever or for a very, very long time, like a drawing in permanent marker.A photo posted on a public website is often permanent because other people can save it to their own computers. TemporarySomething that only lasts for a short time, like a drawing in pencil that you can erase.Some game messages disappear after you close the game, but you can't be sure they are truly gone. ScreenshotA picture taken of whatever is on a computer or phone screen. It's...

The Marker vs. Pencil Rule IF you put it online, THEN treat it like a permanent marker, not a pencil. Use this rule to help you decide what to post. Always assume that what you share online could be permanent, even if it says it's temporary, because you can't easily 'erase' it once it's out there. The Screenshot Rule Anything on a screen can be saved with a screenshot. Remember this rule before sending messages or pictures, even in apps where things are supposed to disappear. The 'disappearing' event doesn't stop someone from capturing the data with a screenshot. The Server Memory Rule Deleting something from your screen doesn't always delete it from the server. When you click the 'delete' button (an event), it s...