Digital Footprint-OMG

Happily, my Mom was not in any way, shape, or form interested in or engaged in anything on the internet.  In fact, attempting to teach her to use a cell phone was futile. We tried. We even had the grandkids attempt to teach her. She had no interest in technology and actually frowned upon the growing scene of  the young and old with cell phones glued to their ears, speaking way too loudly, and ignoring others while walking out in front of cars oblivious to the dangers. They are in a  fog”  she used to tell me.

Nonnie would have been horrified to see young kids owning a cell phone and using computers the way that they do now. It’s just how she felt about it. But the world has changed in six years. So, the good news is that her digital footprint was nil. Zippo. Nada. Thank goodness. Now, turning to the rest of us, we are clearly a nation full of cell phone users, especially since  IPhones/Ipads/Itunes have hit the market.  Whether you like it or not,  Steve Jobs radically changed our world and there is no going back. We are a nation full of laptop users, Ipad users, and smartphone users. Quite a remarkable change in how we  work and how we communicate. Think social media: Facebook, Google, Blogs, URL’s etc… the list is endless. Who would have thought we would be snapping photos or videos from our cell phones  and then instantly sending them to anyone around the world. Wow. Not only do we own assets, possessions, and piles of “stuff”, we now have digital footprints. And when you die, something has to happen to your footprint. We own music, books, photos, accounts and more. Here’s what might be on your digital footprint:

  • Desktops
  • Laptops
  • Tablets
  • Peripherals
  • Storage Devices
  • Mobile telephones
  • Smartphones
  • Digital music
  • Digital photographs
  • Digital videos
  • Software Licenses
  • Social network accounts
  • File sharing accounts
  • Financial accounts
  • Banking accounts
  • Domain registrations
  • DNS service accounts
  • Web hosting accounts
  • Tax preparation services
  • Online stores
  • Affiliate programs

Just when you think you have thought of everything…..who will inherit your digital footprint? And can you transfer your digital footprint through your will? The biggest question:  who will have the power to access, modify, delete, control and transfer your digital accounts? Planning will help alleviate that “OMG”  feeling that may consume your loved ones when you die. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Subscribe to our Articles of Interest & Mailing List