Digital Tattoos

"Wear your heart on your skin in this life."- Sylvia Plath

Photo Courtesy of: http://www.33rdsquare.com/2012/11/juan-enriquez-on-big-data-and-tattoos.html

Digital Tattoos
Tattoos inked upon your skin and the mark your actions leave on the omnipresent canvas of the internet  have something in common: permanence.

When entering into a tattoo parlor, one would hopefully have the insight to have come prepared with an idea of what they wanted to get, where, and the means to pay for it. There are also expectations when entering a tattoo parlor. I know I expect, cleanliness, respect, talent, focus, and safety at all times. An understanding of the concept of tattoos is required: they are permanent.  Ideas, expectations, and understanding require thought. Unfortunately, when getting tattoos, there are more than a few people who forget to put in the thought required. Because of the permanent nature of tattoos, this thoughtlessness can quickly turn into permanent regret.

From Footprint to Tattoo 
The trail an individual leaves while foraging through the internet wilderness has been referred to as their"digital footprint." The sites we have visited, the words we have typed, the images we have shared all remain impressed on the vast internet floor. However, a footprint can be washed away, your trail on the internet cannot. Thus, a better analogy for the information trail we leave online would be.... a digital tattoo and that is what our permanent online presence is called.

Photo taken by Nicole E. Muchowicz

The Importance of this Distinction
I think back to my childhood and all of the temporary tattoos I had my mom hold onto my skin, underneath a damp rag for thirty seconds. I remember there were a lot. There was even the temporary tongue tattoo that accompanied the wrapper of Fruit Stripe gum.  Those tattoos are not something I would have wanted to last my entire life.  I do happen to be an individual with actual ink tattoos. I have experienced the ongoing permanence of having body art.  I comprehend that there are certain types of perceptions, stereotypes, and judgements many people make about tattoos.   The same perceptions, stereotypes and judgements can also be made about the persona and information an individual posts online. I recently found out that information on dormant websites can be resurrected with the proper programming. It was my naivete that made me shocked at this fact.  I believe students, teachers, parents, and every other person should put as much thought into the permanence of their actions online as though it were being tattooed onto their person permanently.  It is possible our digital tattoos will outlast us, and may even be our artifacts or legacy for future generations to see.

Photo taken from Pinterest

The Problem with Permanence
Ink tattoos and digital tattoos are both permanent and both sometimes need context for complete understanding. Someone may look at a tattoo and assume what it means, but unless the context is explained, all they have are generalizations and assumptions to piece together the meaning.  A person often (and hopefully) accompanies an ink tattoo and the person will be there to explain the context and meaning of their tattoo. As for digital tattoos, someone may never meet you, never see you, but only have access to a sound byte's equivalent of information about a person without any context and still make a judgement. People form judgements very quickly and can access a myriad of information on anyone who has used the internet and it is important to monitor the online persona that is available to the world.  There are benefits of having meaningful information on anyone's "digital tattoo". A curriculum vitae, resume, writing samples, accomplishments, and other positive facets can be a part of an individual's digital tattoo. However, unfortunately, inappropriate photographs, unsavory comments, or just plain bad behavior can all be documented and forever imprinted on an individual's "digital tattoo".  This can come back to haunt an individual, even if they have gone through life changes and periods of enlightenment, the digital tattoo remains.

There is a safeguard for ink tattoos: you need to be 18 to get one (or have parental consent under certain conditions. It typically costs a lot of money, and there are only designated places to get a tattoo.

As for a digital tattoo, anyone can make a permanent mark at anytime, anywhere. An accidental "Post" could be a permanent mistake.  Internet access is now almost everywhere-which makes the world a universal digital tattoo parlor.  Because of the permanence of our digital lives, it is important to enlighten and educate our students on the safeguards, privacy and precaution that need to be used when  using the internet.

I believe that if technology is used in the classroom, technology etiquette and privacy should be discussed.