📝 The Digital Footprint: Your Past, Your Posts, Your Power: In this episode of Black-Liberation.Tech, we follow Ebony, Maria, and Mia as they discuss a powerful lesson on how your online choices shape your future. Through Ebony’s story about a lost NASA internship, we unpack what it means to have a digital footprint and why every post, comment, and message matters. Whether you are thinking about college, career, or one day running for office—this conversation will help you understand how to protect your online image and build a reputation of which you can be proud.

📌 Show Notes:

• Real-life story: How a tweet cost Naomi a NASA internship
• What is a digital footprint and why does it matter?
• How deleted posts can still be found
• Ebony’s advice for future leaders
• Tips for cleaning up your online image
• Reflection prompts to spark discussion with family or friends
• Search & Discover activity included!

📍 Key Points:

• Employers, schools, and future opportunities often check your online presence.
• Even deleted posts can be recovered through screenshots or archives.
• A strong digital footprint is intentional, respectful, and forward-thinking.
• Everyone has the power to shape their online story—starting today.

🧠 Reflective Questions:

1. Why do you think Naomi lost her opportunity at NASA because of a tweet?
2. What does your digital footprint say about you today?
3. What would you want people to find if they searched your name in 5 years?
4. Have you ever regretted something you posted, commented on, or shared?
5. How can you protect your reputation online while still being yourself?
6. What advice would you give someone who just started using social media?
7. What does it mean to have good “cyber hygiene”?

In this episode of Black Liberation.Tech, we dive into three powerful and practical interactive activities designed for girls and their mothers, guardians, or mentors. These hands-on challenges—Social Media Safety Audit & Edit Challenge, Spot the Scam & Secure the Bag, and AI in My Space: Safe, Smart, and Respectful Use—are all about building safer digital habits, smarter tech boundaries, and stronger relationships through reflection and action. Whether you're editing a photo to protect your privacy, spotting the signs of a scam, or crafting respectful prompts for ChatGPT, these lessons empower you to take charge of your digital world. Tune in, learn, reflect, and take these lessons home—literally. Your fridge might thank you.

Highlights from this episode:

• 🔍 Lesson 1: Social Media Safety Audit & Edit Challenge Learn how to spot Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in photos and videos on your social media, then edit, blur, crop, or cover it up to protect your privacy.
• 💸 Lesson 2: Spot the Scam & Secure the Bag Explore fraud prevention tools and strategies for using apps like CashApp, Venmo, Zelle, and PayPal. You’ll reflect on real-world examples and clean up your digital finance habits.
• 🤖 Lesson 3: AI in My Space: Safe, Smart, and Respectful Use Discover how to ask generative AI tools safe questions, recognize risky prompts, and create your own AI safety poster for home display. Build a better relationship with the tech tools in your life.

Who should listen:

✔️ Middle & high school girls

✔️ Mothers, guardians, mentors

✔️ Educators and community leaders

✔️ Anyone committed to digital literacy, safety, and empowerment

Takeaway Tools:

🎨 Printable activities

💬 Guided reflection prompts

📱 Real-world application through your own phone, apps, and online presence

💭 Reflective Questions

Use these during or after the episode to deepen your understanding:

1. When was the last time you reviewed your social media for privacy risks? What surprised you?
2. What are some new habits you’ve learned that could help you avoid scams?
3. How do you decide what’s “too much” to share online?
4. What safety rule stood out to you when thinking about using AI platforms?
5. What did you and your mother/mentor learn about each other during these activities?
6. What’s one change you’ll make this week to improve your digital well-being?
7. If you could teach someone younger one lesson from today, what would it be and why?

In this episode, we kick off our Safety First series by diving into the first three lessons of the Black-Liberation.Tech OER—centered on protecting yourself and others in digital spaces.

Join Dr. Renée Jordan as she reads the stories of Jazmin, Ebony, and Njoki—three women navigating online safety with intention, community, and clarity. Through conversations with girls, moms, and mentors, we explore how personal information can be misused, the difference between posting and oversharing, and how to build safe digital environments that protect both ourselves and those around us.

Whether you're a student, educator, or community member, this episode will leave you reflecting on your digital choices and inspired to lead with care in online spaces.

✍🏽 Reflective Questions

1. What types of personal information do you share online—intentionally or unintentionally?
2. How do your social media habits support or challenge your own safety?
3. Has there ever been a time when you felt vulnerable or exposed online? What would you do differently now?
4. What does it mean to create a safe online space for others? What can you do to contribute to that?
5. How can you teach someone younger than you to stay safe in digital communities?