Build & Talk: Digital Footprints

Q&A for grown-ups

Before you start the new Build & Talk: Digital Footprints activity with your child – why not refresh your knowledge on the topic?

You’ll find some helpful information below that will help the conversations with your child. When you’ve had a look, start the activity here.

digital footprint
  • question mark

    What is a digital footprint?

    The same way we leave trails when walking on a sandy beach, we leave digital footprints whenever we move around in the digital world. These footprints can be information we share actively such as a photo, a ‘like’, a comment, a gaming subscription, etc., that shape our digital identity. Or they can be information we share passively with websites and apps such as location tracking, cookies on websites and data-collection within apps. Read on to learn more about the digital identity we create for ourselves and how to help your child manage their digital persona.

  • Identity

    What is digital identity and why is it important for my family to talk about?

    Digital identity is all about who we are and what others see when we roam about the digital world. Just like in the physical world, our digital actions and the footprints we leave behind shape our digital identity including how others online perceive and treat us. So, it’s important that we behave honestly and kindly to the people we come across online because just like in the real world, our actions online can have consequences.

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    Staying true to ourselves online

    Digital media and content can affect how children feel about themselves and may influence their behavior online. It’s important to build your child’s confidence and teach them that they are perfect just the way they are, and that gaining likes, followers or attention might be thrilling, but shouldn’t govern how they behave online. Explain the importance of staying true to themselves and their values, and teach them to behave the same way (caring, respectful, polite) online as they would in the physical world.

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    How can I help my child manage their digital footprint?

    When talking with your child about an abstract and complex concept, it can be helpful to divide it up:

    For active sharing: Let your child know that when we post anything online, the content may exist for a long time. It can be saved, shared and potentially altered by others, so we should make sure we’re only sharing things we’re okay with having around for a long time.

    For passive sharing: Encourage your child to always ask “why” a digital service requests your data – do they have a valid reason, for example, does that map-app really need to know where you were two weeks ago or when you’re not using the app? Help them select privacy settings that you’re comfortable with as a family – you can use a search engine to find guides on how to do this.

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    What should my child do if they’ve shared something they regret?

    Let your child know they can always come to you for help or advice. If they shared something they’ve later regretted, help them delete it – but be aware it might not be truly gone forever as digital footprints can be saved in places we can’t readily see. If what they’ve shared upset someone, help them take responsibility for the situation by reaching out to the other person to offer an apology, and ask to understand why they became upset so the situation can be avoided in the future.

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    The global digital world

    The digital world is a place full of wonderful opportunities to connect with different people and cultures. When online, we’re surrounded by all sorts of people all with different cultures, beliefs and backgrounds. This means that it’s important to teach our children to approach others with the same curiosity and openness that we would in the physical world. We should always respect others as we would want to be respected ourselves, which means accepting cultural and social differences to make sure that everyone can have a fun and immersive experience when they’re online.

the LEGO logo

How is the LEGO Group helping keep kids safe online?

Our digital experiences and games are safe-by-design and we always strive to be best in class when it comes to our users’ online safety. On our social platforms, all comments and uploads are checked by trained moderators, so things are kept positive and fun and children get playful, randomized names to protect their identity.
We have also introduced Verified Parental Consent, enabling parents to verify themselves and give consent for their child to play and share in our LEGO® experiences.