Privacy is an illusion on the internet. Each click has consequences that can come back to haunt you. What you post online gets stored somewhere literally ‘up in the cloud’, where you can’t reach to delete it. So think before you click, as your data is your responsibility.

We live in a world where everything has gone online — from buying clothing, furniture or groceries, to medicines and even plants. Not to mention social media, where many of us are constantly present, whether checking statuses, watching reels or chatting. It’s a new world where people are always available, and one can meet, talk and see each other whenever they want, no matter where they are.

It’s a wonderful world, but it’s also one without privacy; there are always risks, dangers and hidden threats in the online world — scams, privacy breaches, cyberbullying and manipulation lurking behind screens.

This is because every click, every post, every fleeting thought shared online becomes an indelible mark, a ‘digital footprint’ etched into eternity and stored at places you don’t even realise or just can’t delete yourself. In this virtual reality we now inhabit, such footprints can either elevate your future or haunt you forever. And every day, as I work with children, train my colleagues and assist in solving cyberattack, I witness the profound and often terrifying impact of these footprints. With over a decade of experience, I can confidently say that the digital world is both a blessing and a curse.

Our smartphones, apps and social media platforms have become like open diaries, creating........

© Dawn Young Magazine