Data Footprint Calculator
Find out how much personal information you're sharing online - and just how risky your digital habits might be.
Find out how much personal information you're sharing online - and just how risky your digital habits might be.
Below you’ll find a full explanation of the risks associated with the things you do and share online. Not all
actions are equally risky — context matters, so
Check out the links below to explore each category in more detail:
The more you understand, the more in control you’ll be of your data footprint. Stay safe out there!
| Activity | Risk Level | Why it Might Be Risky |
|---|---|---|
| Lurking / reading | Low | Passive activity; no data is shared. |
| Liking / reacting | Low | Minimal data is shared; patterns may still be tracked. |
| Following accounts / subscribing | Low | May reveal interests, but limited direct exposure. |
| Sharing links to external content | Medium | Can indicate views and interests; can include tracking links. |
| Commenting | Medium | Reveals opinions; may include personal info unintentionally. |
| Posting content | Medium | May contain identifying details or patterns of behaviour. |
| Messaging (private chats/DMs) | Medium | Private, but still stored and potentially exposed. |
| Creating/joining public groups/events | Medium | Shows interests, affiliations, or physical presence. |
| Participating in forums | Medium | Often permanent, searchable, and potentially identifying. |
| Uploading videos | High | Can reveal appearance, voice, surroundings, identity. |
| Syncing contacts | High | Shares your personal network with the platform. |
| Livestreaming | Very High | Real-time exposure with high potential for oversharing. |
| Using location-based apps | Very High | Tracks movements and habits in real time. |
| Tagging people or places in posts | Very High | Reveals identity, location, and relationships. |
| Type of Info Shared | Sensitivity Level | Why it Might Be Risky |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname/first name only | Low | Low risk of being personally identified or tracked. |
| Full name | Medium | Easier for strangers to find you and other personal details about you. |
| Email address | Medium | Can be used for tracking, spam, or phishing attempts. |
| Date of birth | Medium | Used in security questions. May expose you to identity theft risks. |
| Opinions or beliefs (e.g. politics) | Medium | Can be used to profile or target you with manipulative content or ads. |
| School / workplace | High | Reveals daily routine and location, increasing risk of unwanted contact or stalking. |
| Phone number | High | Used for verification, but also enables spam, scams, tracking, and potential account takeover. |
| Home address | High | Reveals where you live; risk of stalking or physical harm. |
| Browsing history (via linked accounts) | High | Can build an in-depth profile of your habits and interests which could be used for manipulation. |
| Third-party app permissions | High | Allows other apps access to your data, often with little transparency. |
| Photos with faces | High | Risks include facial recognition abuse and unwanted identification. |
| Videos with voice/image | High | Reveals multiple personal characteristics and details, increasing privacy invasion risk. |
| Real-time location | Very High | Can be used to track movements and current position, increasing risk of stalking or physical harm. |
| Identity documents (ID/passport) | Very High | Highly sensitive; can lead to identity theft or fraud. |
| Type of Info Shared | Sensitivity Level | Why it Might Be Risky |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname/first name only | Low | Can be linked with purchase habits. May not identify you alone but helps build a profile. |
| Full name | Medium | Easier to target with spam or phishing. |
| Opinions or beliefs (e.g. politics) | Medium | Used to create detailed profiles and target with manipulative ads. |
| Email address | Medium | Vulnerable to spam/phishing. |
| Home address | High | Required for delivery purposes, but poses risks if leaked. |
| School / workplace | High | Reveals daily routine and location, increasing risk of unwanted contact or stalking. |
| Date of birth | High | Exposure increases risk of identity theft and account hacking. |
| Phone number | High | Can be required for delivery updates but vulnerable to scam calls and account takeover attempts. |
| Browsing history (via linked accounts) | High | Used for highly targeted advertising and profiling. |
| Third-party app permissions | High | Grants broad access to sensitive order and account data, often without clear control. |
| Photos with faces | High | Rarely required for online shopping/sevices - exposes identity and can be used in facial recognition or identity theft. |
| Videos with voice/image | High | Rarely required for online shopping/sevices - can reveal personal surroundings and habits, risking privacy invasion. |
| Real-time location | High | Used for deliveries or transport, but discloses your movements, enabling tracking or physical risks. |
| Identity documents (ID/passport) | Very High | Sometimes required for ID verification but extremely sensitive; misuse can lead to severe fraud or identity theft. |
| Type of Info Shared | Sensitivity Level | Why it Might Be Risky |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname/first name only | Low | Mostly internal use; limited public exposure. Low risk of outside profiling. |
| Full name | Medium | Necessary for official use and usually well protected, but risky if data leaks occur. |
| Photos with faces | Low | Usually restricted access but can risk identity exposure if leaked. |
| Videos with voice/image | Low | Could reveal personal details if shared externally. |
| Email address | Medium | Susceptible to phishing if compromised. |
| School / workplace | Medium | Can reveal age group, study focus, and daily schedule. Can increase risk of unwanted contact. |
| Date of birth | Medium | Risk of identity theft if exposed beyond necessary use. |
| Opinions or beliefs (e.g. politics) | Medium | May lead to unwanted profiling or bias if not kept confidential. |
| Phone number | Medium | Risk of misuse if exposed - susceptible to spam/scams. |
| Home address | Medium | Sensitive info; exposure can lead to physical risks or fraud. |
| Browsing history (via linked accounts) | Medium | Could reveal learning habits or interest areas - can be used for profiling or intrusive targeting. |
| Third-party app permissions | Medium | May grant external apps access to personal/learning data, risking exposure if apps are misused. |
| Real-time location | Medium | Could reveal whereabouts if mishandled - increased risk of unwanted contact or stalking. |
| Identity documents (ID/passport) | Medium | Must be securely stored; leaks risk identity theft or fraud. |
| Type of Info Shared | Sensitivity Level | Why it Might Be Risky |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname/first name only | Low | Often reused across platforms; can become identifiable. |
| Full Name | High | Sometimes required for registration, although usually hidden. Sharing openly increases risk of unwanted contact/exposure. |
| Date of birth | Medium | Used for age verification but can be exploited if leaked. |
| Opinions or beliefs (e.g. politics) | Medium | May appear in forums or chats — can be logged or used against you. |
| Email address | High | Target for phishing and spam. |
| School / workplace | High | May give away age or daily routines, increasing risk of stalking or unwanted contact. |
| Phone number | High | Can enable scams or harassment. |
| Browsing history (via linked accounts) | High | Used for targeting and profiling. |
| Third-party app permissions | High | Grants access to gaming data across services; risk if leaked or misused. |
| Photos with faces | High | Risks identity exposure. |
| Videos with voice/image | High | Reveals real-world identity details. |
| Home address | Very High | Rarely required — serious privacy risk if leaked. |
| Real-time location | Very High | Reveals your real-time physical location, which can compromise your privacy and safety. |
| Identity documents (ID/passport) | Very High | May be used in age verification but critical if compromised. |
