By Paola Mendiola Efigenio

We’ve all had to clean out our fridge from time to time, throwing away forgotten leftovers, old Chinese food we swore we’d eat, or a homemade chicken pesto that wasn’t as good as it looked. Once it’s in the trash, we hardly ever give it a second thought. In a similar fashion, a lot of us treat our digital lives the same way. According to Pew Research, nearly 59% of teens have deleted or edited something that they posted in the past. Growing up, I remember deleting an embarrassing picture after sending it, falling victim to the idea that it would be permanently deleted. I’d hit the delete button and the problem was solved.  That embarrassing picture or text was gone… out of sight, out of mind, right?

Unfortunately, that’s not really the case.

Think of social media and the internet as a fridge. Every picture, video, message, any piece of data, really, gets placed on a shelf in storage. Over time, some of those items expire and eventually have to be thrown away. When we quickly click through the terms & conditions alongside the company’s privacy policy, we are actually agreeing to several agreements; one of which allows companies to collect our information.

If you’ve ever cleaned up a fridge, you know that getting rid of spoiled food doesn’t always get rid of the mess. A container of leftovers can leave a stain or an odor that lingers long after the food is gone. Sometimes that residue and spillage go unnoticed until something new gets placed over it. In digital forensics, this is similar to the concept of overwriting the original data with zeros on a disk drive, covering up what was once there (7 Data Recovery). Deleting a photo or message doesn’t always mean every trace disappears immediately. Data can remain in backups, whether on Google Photos, Apple iCloud storage, files on our phones, or a company’s server, for a period of time before it is fully removed. While you may no longer see it, there can still be remnants behind the scenes.

I know we all hate to read terms & conditions, but if you want to find out what happens with all your information, a useful way to know for sure is by reading the privacy policy from the different social media platforms you use. For example, Meta does a fantastic job of visually breaking down their privacy policy, stating the following: “In the Privacy Policy, we explain how we collect, use, share, retain, and transfer information. We also let you know your rights.” With short bite-size clips and graphics, Meta also states they collect the following:  “Messages you send and receive, including their content, subject to applicable law.” ​

We toss out leftovers, wipe down the shelves, and move on. But our digital lives aren’t always that simple. Sure, the delete button is a useful tool, but it isn’t a magic eraser.

What can you do?

  • Think before you share – Would you be okay if the important people in your life saw this?
  • Review privacy policies – While not very fun, spending a couple of minutes to learn can help you make wiser decisions.
  • Remember that screenshots exist – Even if you deleted what you shared, others can still screenshot.

Conversation Starters 

  • Have you ever posted something you regret online?
  • Where do you think your information goes when you post?
  • What’s something you shouldn’t post online?

Learn more

Savvy Cyber Kids educates and empowers digital citizens, from parents and grandparents, to teachers and students. Sign up for our free resources to help you navigate today’s digital world with cyber ethics. See more cyber safety and cyber ethics blogs produced exclusively for EarthLink. Looking for a social media parental control? Try a 30-day free trial of Bark. If you sign up after your trial, Bark donates 25% of your monthly fee to Savvy Cyber Kids.

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