Cybersecurity Foundations (Grades 6–8) · lesson 12 of 48 · 12 min
You Are the Author of Your Online Story
Your digital footprint exists whether you manage it or not. The question is whether you are the one shaping it — or whether it is being shaped for you by default settings, old posts, and data you forgot you shared.
Managing your online presence means two things: (1) reducing the negative — removing or hiding content that could harm your reputation or privacy, and (2) building the positive — creating content that accurately represents who you are and what you can do.
This matters now, not just in the future. Colleges, scholarship committees, sports coaches, and employers all search applicants online. A 2023 survey found that 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates. What they find — or do not find — affects real decisions about your life.
The audit — start here
Before you can manage your online presence, you need to know what it looks like. Open an incognito/private browser window (so your own browsing history does not affect results) and search your full name. Then search your username. Then search your email address. What comes up? This is what others see. Make a list of everything you find — positive, negative, and neutral.
Privacy Settings — Your First Line of Control
Every major platform has privacy settings that control who can see your content. Most platforms default to maximum visibility — you have to actively change them. Here is what to do on each major platform.
Privacy settings are not a one-time task. Platforms change their defaults and add new features regularly. Review your settings every few months, and whenever a platform announces a major update.
Activity 1 — Privacy Audit Matching
Privacy Setting to Risk
Cleaning Up — Removing Harmful Content
Once you have audited your online presence, you may find content you want to remove or restrict. Here is a systematic approach.
Prevention is far easier than remediation
Removing content from the internet is slow, incomplete, and often impossible. A post that was public for even a few hours may have been screenshotted, shared, cached, and archived. The most effective strategy is to think before posting — not to rely on deletion. Once something is public, treat it as permanent.
Activity 2 — Online Presence Scenarios
Online Presence Management Scenarios
Building a Positive Online Presence
Managing your online presence is not just about removing negatives — it is also about building positives. A strong, professional online presence can open doors.
The cybersecurity portfolio
For students interested in cybersecurity specifically: a GitHub profile with CTF (Capture the Flag) write-ups, a blog documenting what you are learning, and participation in platforms like TryHackMe or HackTheBox creates a compelling portfolio. Security employers value demonstrated skills over credentials, especially for entry-level positions.
Activity 3 — Sort the Actions
Online Presence Actions
- Delete an old forum account where you argued with people
- reduce
Removing a source of negative content reduces your negative footprint.
- Create a GitHub profile with your coding projects
- build
A GitHub portfolio builds a positive professional presence.
- Set all social media profiles to private
- both
Restricting visibility reduces negative exposure AND makes your public presence more curated and professional.
- Write a blog post about a cybersecurity topic you learned
- build
Publishing educational content builds a positive, professional online presence.
- Request removal of your profile from data broker sites
- reduce
Removing data broker profiles reduces the amount of personal information available about you.
- Enable tag review on all social media accounts
- both
Tag review prevents unwanted negative content from appearing on your profile AND keeps your profile curated.
Activity 4 — Flashcard Review
Managing Your Online Presence — Key Terms
Online Presence Everything associated with your name on the internet — social media profiles, forum posts, news articles, photos, and any other content linked to your identity.
- Core
- Privacy Audit
Searching your own name in an incognito browser to see what others can find about you. The starting point for managing your online presence. Should be done regularly.
- Skill
- Tag Review
A social media setting that lets you approve or reject tags before they appear on your profile. Prevents others from associating you with content without your consent.
- Control
- Digital Reputation
The impression others form of you based on your online presence. Affects college admissions, job applications, and personal relationships. Built over years; difficult to change quickly.
- Concept
- Incognito Search
Searching your name in a private/incognito browser window to see results unaffected by your own browsing history. Shows you what others see when they search for you.
- Skill
- Data Broker Opt-Out
Submitting removal requests to data broker companies to have your profile deleted from their databases. Time-consuming and incomplete, but reduces the amount of personal data available about you.
- Action
- Professional Portfolio
A curated collection of your work, skills, and achievements published online (GitHub, LinkedIn, personal website). Builds a positive online presence that helps with college admissions and employment. Positive
Activity 5 — Online Presence Scenarios
Managing Your Online Presence
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