Digital Footprint Awareness

A digital footprint is the trail of data you leave behind when you do something online.
Awareness is the precursor to becoming media literate and to be able to participate fully in modern society. It is also a necessary pre-condition of acquiring technical skills (often referred to as digital literacy) and cognitive skills (the capacity to make sense of information and understand the implications of online activity). Are people aware, for instance, of how their identity and reputation is tracked online?
This survey is designed to collect data relating to individuals’ awareness about their digital footprint. It will also assess the current and desired level of control exercised by citizens over their digital footprint, as well as the protections and safeguards they would like to implement in the future.
The final report will be shared and discussed with the European Commission and freely available for everyone.
This research is run by DLEARN - European Digital Learning Network.

Tell us something about you

Question Title

* 1. Your gender:

Male

Female

Prefer not to say

Question Title

* 2. Your age:

16-25

26-35

36-50

50+

Question Title

* 3. What is the highest level of education you have completed?

First level of compulsory education

Secondary education

Higher education (University)

Postgraduate

Question Title

* 4. My technical skills are:

Basic (using an internet browser, sending and receiving emails, word processing)

Intermediate (shopping online, using social media, using graphics and multimedia)

Advanced (advanced use of databases, programming and scripting)

Question Title

* 5. What is your country of residence?

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 6. What is your occupation

I am a student

I am employed/self-employed

I do not work

I am retired

Digital Footprint awareness

Question Title

* 7. Have you ever read a privacy policy in full before agreeing to it?

Yes, I do sometimes

Yes, always

Question Title

* 8. Have you ever given permission for third parties to access and use your data?

Yes

Question Title

* 9. Who owns and can use the data about your behavior online, such as your contacts or your locations?

It is mine, no one should use it

Private companies such as Facebook/Instagram/Google, for instance, to store and use my data to create my online profile

Only companies to whom I have given my unequivocal permission

Public authorities which promote public interest

Anyone who wishes, those data are not mine anymore

Online reputation

Question Title

* 10. Have you ever searched your “name/surname” on Google to check your online identity and reputation?

Yes

Not yet, I will do it now!

No, I do not care

Question Title

* 11. Please, indicate if the following sentences are "true or false" according to your best knowledge:

	True	False
I am in full control and I am able to manage my digital identity	I am in full control and I am able to manage my digital identity True	I am in full control and I am able to manage my digital identity False
Me, I am fine, but I know many people who are completely unaware	Me, I am fine, but I know many people who are completely unaware True	Me, I am fine, but I know many people who are completely unaware False
Someone could easily influence my online reputation by posting fake information under my name	Someone could easily influence my online reputation by posting fake information under my name True	Someone could easily influence my online reputation by posting fake information under my name False
If you just send emails and visit websites, without using social media, you don't have to worry about your online reputation.	If you just send emails and visit websites, without using social media, you don't have to worry about your online reputation. True	If you just send emails and visit websites, without using social media, you don't have to worry about your online reputation. False

Question Title

* 12. How do you think your profile should be used? (Tick as many as apply)

When employers check their future employees’ online profiles

To suggest items that I possibly want to buy

In the public interest (for instance for research or educational purposes)

To be made available to national security agencies

Private companies, including social media platforms, can sell my data as they wish

My data are just mine, it should not be used for any purpose!

Question Title

* 13. Which of the following online activities do you think could impact an employer’s decision to hire you?

Negative comments about previous employers

The photos and videos you have published

The pages you follow on your social media

Poor grammar in comments and posts

Your political beliefs expressed online

It is unfair for an employer to look at my online reputation

Question Title

* 14. How can I revise and promote my online reputation to my advantage

I can always delete something I have published

I can promote a positive reputation

I can be more mindful of what I publish online

You cannot, once something is published online it cannot be removed

Question Title

* 15. Do you think that your online personal data might be subject of breach?

Yes

It is rare

It is impossible to steal data online

Question Title

* 16. Are you aware that your online activities (surfing the internet, using social media, shopping online) are tracked in order to build your online profile and reputation?

Yes

Media Literacy competences

Question Title

* 17. Which of the following personal data do you keep protected?

My identity name, nationality, address, etc.

Web browsing history / behaviour preferences

Shopping preferences

Financial information, e.g. credit cards or bank accounts numbers

Question Title

* 18. Have you recently used any of the following tools or made any of the following adjustments on your devices? For each yes/no

	Yes	No
Location tracking	Location tracking Yes	Location tracking No
Privacy settings on social media	Privacy settings on social media Yes	Privacy settings on social media No
Change username/password or delete your old media accounts	Change username/password or delete your old media accounts Yes	Change username/password or delete your old media accounts No
Private mode in your browser	Private mode in your browser Yes	Private mode in your browser No
Anti-tracking tools	Anti-tracking tools Yes	Anti-tracking tools No
Ads blockers software	Ads blockers software Yes	Ads blockers software No
None of the above	None of the above Yes	None of the above No

Question Title

* 19. Where should I learn the right skills to manage my online reputation?

At school

Tips from peers/ friends

Through online information campaigns

Social media and service providers should be obliged to provide more user-friendly support

Other/please suggest

What you can do to better protect yourself

Question Title

* 20. For which of the following purposes should your data be used?

For employers to check their future employees’ online profiles

To suggest items that I possibly want to buy

In the public interest (for instance for research or educational purposes)

To be made available to national security agencies

Private companies such as Facebook can sell my data as they wish

My data are just mine, it should not be used for any purpose!

Question Title

* 21. Would you be in favour of the following? (tick as many as apply)

Social media platforms and service providers should comply with stricter regulations

It would be sufficient if they would adhere to a code of conduct and regulate themselves

Users are the sole responsible of their behaviour online, no regulations at all

Users should be given more control over their data, including the option to delete it

Question Title

* 22. Do you have any further comments or ideas you’d like to share?

Question Title

* 23. If you would like to stay informed about the research and its final result, please leave here your contact:

Name/Family Name

Organization

Country

Email Address

Your data will be only used to share information about this research and/or other topics related with the “digitalisation” of our society. It may be initiatives, conferences and other events, projects, news from Institutions and our members

The European Digital Learning Network informs you that according to the art. 13 D.Lgs. 30.6.2003 n. 196 (hereinafter, "Privacy Code") and art. 13 EU Regulation n. 2016/679 (hereinafter, "GDPR") your data will be processed in the manner and for the purposes contained in our privacy policy

EAVI informs you that according the EU Regulation n. 2016/679 (hereinafter, "GDPR") your data will be processed in the manner and for the purposes contained in our privacy policy

Thank you for your time!