ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Digital Footprints Hangman

The 55 key terms

1digital account

A personal record kept on a system, like a school, email, game or social account, that you must log in to reach. Each account holds your own information.

2digital footprint

The trail of data you leave online from what you do and post, like posts, comments, searches and photos, including data other people share about you.

3online post

Anything you share online, like a comment, a group chat message, a like or an emoji, is saved as data and adds to your digital footprint.

4Photo footprint

When you share a photo or video, a copy is stored online and joins your digital footprint. It can show details about you, like your face, school or street, even if you delete it later.

5browsing history

A record of the websites you visit and the things you search for. It adds to your digital footprint even if you never post anything, and it can be saved when you are signed in.

6app activity data

Apps and games record what you do, like scores, chats, purchases and play time. This record adds to your digital footprint.

7personal data

Information that identifies or relates to a specific person, like their name, birthday, address, photos or location. It needs protecting because it is stored in online accounts.

8online account

A profile on a website or app that stores the personal data you give it, like your name and age. The company may share that data, so only give what is needed.

9active and passive footprints

Active = data you choose to share, like posting a photo. Passive = data collected about you without you typing it, like cookies, location tracking or browsing history.

10cookie

A small file a website saves in your browser to remember you. Tracking cookies record what you do across different sites, often to show you targeted ads.

11metadata

Hidden details stored inside a photo or file, like the time, device and GPS location. It can add to your digital footprint when you share it, so check and remove it first.

12data collection

Companies track what you do online to learn what you like, show you targeted adverts and keep you using their app or site. Free apps often pay for themselves this way.

13footprint map

A list or drawing of the sites, apps and devices you use and the data each one keeps about you.

14digital permanence

Anything you post online can be copied, saved or shared by others, so it may never fully disappear, even if you delete it. Think before you post.

15screenshot

A picture of your screen that anyone can take and share. Even if you delete your post, a saved copy can still exist.

16wider audience

The many people who can see your digital footprint, such as friends, strangers, companies and later schools and employers, not just the people you meant to share with.

17reputation

What people think of you based on what they find about you online. Even an old post that seemed funny at the time can shape it years later.

18positive digital footprint

Sharing kind, safe and useful things online that you would be happy for anyone to see, like schoolwork you are proud of and kind comments. Try the grandparent test.

19Manage your footprint

Take action to control what is online about you by searching your own name, deleting old posts and unused accounts, and asking others to remove content.

20privacy setting

A switch in an app or account that controls who can see your information, like making it private or friends only.

21App permissions

Settings where each app asks to use your location, camera, microphone or contacts. You can allow or deny each one, or allow only while using the app, and review them any time.

22Privacy

The right to keep your personal information and data safe from others without permission.

23privacy policy

A document that says what data a service collects, why it collects it, who it shares it with, how long it keeps it and how you can opt out.

24data minimisation

Collecting only the data a form really needs. Remove extra questions, mark fields optional and use ranges, like an age range instead of a birth date.

25minimum age

The youngest age an app or site allows, because it collects data and shows content not made for younger kids. Check the age rating and ask a parent or carer first.

26private information

Details like your full name, address, school, phone number and passphrase. Keep them secret. A nickname or favourite colour is safe to share. A photo can show your school or street.

27Think before you share

Before posting, ask: is it personal, who will see it, and could someone copy or pass it on? If you would not want everyone to see it, do not share it.

28safe username

A username that does not show your full name, birthday, school or address. Use a nickname, leave out your birth year, and never use your passphrase as your username.

29Do not reply, tell an adult

If someone you do not know messages you or asks about you, do not answer. Tell a trusted adult, even for friend requests, questions about where you live, or requests to chat in private.

30Too-good-to-be-true offer

A free prize, free gift or scary pop-up is often a trick. Do not click it or give your details. Close it and tell an adult.

31Close it, don't share it, tell an adult

If you see something upsetting or not meant for you online, close the page, do not forward it, report it, and tell a trusted adult. Feeling worried is okay.

32cyberbullying

Using devices or online spaces to hurt, embarrass or leave someone out on purpose, again and again, like mean messages, embarrassing photos or being left out of a group chat.

33Don't reply. Save. Block. Report. Tell.

If someone bullies you online, do not reply. Save the evidence, block and report the person, then tell a trusted adult. You can help a friend who is being bullied in the same way.

34phishing

A fake message that tricks you into giving away login details or personal data. Do not click its links; tell a trusted adult.

35Never send your passphrase

A real company, teacher or friend will never ask for your passphrase in a message. If one does, it is a trick. Do not reply. Tell an adult.

36public Wi-Fi risk

Data sent over public Wi-Fi can be seen by others, so avoid logging in or paying there. Use mobile data instead for sensitive tasks.

37account takeover

When someone else logs in to your account. They can read your private messages, post pretending to be you, or lock you out by changing your password.

38keep it private

Your passphrase is a secret. Do not tell friends, type it where others can watch, or put it in a message. Only share it with a parent or carer you trust.

39unique passphrase

A different passphrase for every account, so if one is leaked in a breach, criminals cannot use it to get into your other accounts. Change it straight away after a breach.

40change it and tell an adult

If someone else might know your passphrase, change it straight away and tell a trusted adult. If you used it on other accounts, change it there too and check for odd activity.

41log out

Ending your session on an account so the next person using a shared device, like a school or library computer, cannot open or use your account.

42protocol

An agreed rule or way of behaving that everyone follows so sharing and working online stays safe and respectful, like rules for a class chat or a shared document.

43class online agreement

A short list of rules our class writes together about what we share, how we treat each other and what to do if something goes wrong. Everyone agrees to it.

44Think before you post

Before sharing online, get permission from anyone shown in your photo or video, check who can see it, and use kind, respectful words. Report harmful content.

45Ask before you post

A photo of someone else is part of their footprint too. Ask them before you post or tag it, and take it down if they say no or ask you to.

46kind and helpful comment

A comment that is polite, specific and true, and that you would say to the person's face. Say what is good, give a helpful tip, skip put-downs, and pause before you send.

47Share button

The button you click to choose who can open your file and what they can do: view, comment or edit. You can share by link or invite named people by email, and remove access later.

48Suggesting mode

A setting where your edits show as proposed changes, not final ones. The file owner can accept or reject each one, and comments can be resolved when finished.

49Version history

A list of earlier saved versions of a shared file. It shows who changed what and when, so you can name a version or restore an older one.

50platform

A website or service where you publish content. Each one gives a different audience and level of control, so choose one that suits your purpose, audience, privacy needs and school rules.

51Ask, Check, Think

Before you act online: Ask a trusted adult, Check that the sender or site is real, and Think about what could happen if you click or share.

52trusted adult

A grown-up you can ask when something online feels odd. Tell them straight away, and you will not be in trouble for asking.

53Think, Evaluate, Choose

Three steps for staying safe online: think about what is happening, evaluate the risks, then choose the safest action, such as stopping or asking a trusted adult.

54because

The linking word that gives your reason. Say what to do, then add because, like: I log out on shared devices because someone else could use my account.

55personal online safety plan

A short list of habits that keep your footprint safe: what you will share, which trusted adults you will tell, and which settings you will check. Review it each term.