I just realized I have been mentioning Digital Footprint in a number of articles but have yet to post an article on the topic here.
When I started my Vancover Canada based security alarm company KeepSafe Systems in 1991, the concept of a digital footprint did not exist for the average homeowner and I would always joke with IT guys about Smoke Signals and Carrier pigeons being tried and true methods of communication, when they suggested I set up a website, look at me now 😂.
During those early years, I knew an individual named Jon Stoddard beginning a business focused on teaching media literacy, I believe he called it Media Smart. While the internet was barely a whisper of concern at the time, his message regarding the power and influence of media consumption resonated with me. He understood early on how the information we consume, and eventually the information we broadcast, shapes our reality and our safety.
Flash forward several decades, and the rise of social media transformed those early theories into a stark reality. I began noticing a disturbing trend where criminals moved beyond simple physical reconnaissance and had started using publicly posted information to commit not only property crimes but also heinous crimes targeting children. In my original article on this subject, "Your Digital Footprint", I highlighted how a single mother unintentionally exposed her children’s bedroom layout and school schedules to the entire world through a business profile. What was once a concern for high profile figures or law enforcement officers has now become a universal threat.
The Weaponization Of Social Media And Synthetic Media
As we move further into this rapid technology vortex, the need for digital literacy has never been more critical. We must now contend with the fact every TikTok video or Facebook story provides a rich data set for modern criminals. Scammers are no longer restricted to using text based posts. They are harvesting the audio and video you share to perpetuate crimes via deepfakes. By capturing just a few seconds of your voice from a video, an artificial intelligence tool can clone your speech with terrifying accuracy, Deepfake Video technology even allows them to create a very compelling but fake video of anyone, this technology is no longer slipping with 11 fingers and a second node, it is highly accurate and believable. When criminals combine this cloned audio / video with social engineering and the wealth of publicly posted family information available online, they create a rich feeding ground for fraud.
Imagine a scenario where a grandparent receives a phone call. The voice on the other end sounds exactly like their grandchild, pleading for bail money or emergency medical funds. Because the scammer knows the names of the family members, the current travel location of the grandchild, and even the name of the family dog, the deception becomes nearly impossible to detect. This intersection of personal data and synthetic media allows scammers to bypass the natural skepticism we usually apply to strangers.
A Necessary Shift In Family Safety Conversations
This evolution necessitates a fundamental shift in how we approach family safety. Managing a digital footprint and practicing media literacy needs to become a regular part of family conversations. These discussions should be on par with physical and mental health concerns. Parents must teach their children how a "private" post is rarely truly private and how a face forward video allows an AI bot to impersonate them. We need to normalize asking questions like, "Who can see this?" or "Could this information assist someone in tracking our movements?" before anyone hits the share button.
Equally important is normalizing open, non judgemental dialogue within our families and social circles. Friends, partners, parents, and children must feel safe bringing forward concerns about shared digital images, online relationships, or suspicious messages without fear of ridicule or criticism. If someone believes they may have fallen for a scam, the worst response is shame. Scammers are highly skilled at psychological manipulation. They study human behavior, exploit trust, and adapt their tactics with precision. Individuals from every profession, education level, and socioeconomic background have become victims.
When we remove judgment from these conversations, we create an environment where questions are welcomed and concerns are addressed early. A teenager unsure about an online interaction, a spouse uneasy about a financial request, or a grandparent confused by an urgent phone call should feel empowered to speak up immediately. Early discussion often prevents deeper harm.
Seniors and those who are less familiar with rapidly evolving technology must also be intentionally included in these discussions. Digital literacy cannot be reserved for the young or the professionally connected. It needs to extend to grandparents, retirees, new users of smartphones, and anyone who feels they are “not good with technology.” These conversations should not be limited to formal settings. They should happen at kitchen tables, during family visits, around water coolers, in lunch rooms, at bus stops, and anywhere people gather. I am not suggesting digital risk should dominate every interaction, but we should normalize brief, practical exchanges about emerging scams and online safety the same way we share weather alerts or community news.
When awareness becomes part of everyday dialogue across generations, we strengthen the collective defense of our communities. This is one of the reasons I put on multiple community safety/ FureSmart Forums in the Metro Vancouver area. There are some videos on the newly set up YouTube channel. More will be added over time.
The dangers shifted from the shadows of an alleyway to the glow of a smartphone screen. By integrating digital literacy into our daily lives, we treat our online presence with the same caution we apply to locking our front doors at night. We must remain cognizant of the trail we leave behind, ensuring our digital legacy does not become a blueprint for those seeking to do us harm. Education, paired with open conversation and compassion, remains our most powerful tool in navigating this complex and often treacherous digital landscape.
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