So much is discussed lately about the so-called digital dangers inherent with engaging in social media. I want to suggest a different perspective. Your digital footprint can be managed and maintained in such a way as to make it a positive.

Who are you? Who are you really? And whom would you like to be? When you apply to college or for a job (or go on a date), you work to present the you you'd really like to be. And your digital footprint represents an image of who you seem to be.

Try this. Google yourself. Be sure to search for your name in quotation marks. (For instance, search ["Jane Doe"] instead of [Jane Doe]. This will return your exact name. What do you see?

Those with common names often find themselves lost in the crowd. One of my students found a strong online presence with her name, a woman whose footprint consisted mostly of tawdry photos and stories about drinking. Search as she might, she could find nothing about herself.

Others pride themselves on their status as digital hermits.

But is being a digital non-entity the best? When applying for jobs, colleges, etc., we tout ourselves as community leaders, engaged learners, global citizens. What evidence of that can be found in nothingness?

Others Google themselves and find a Twitter feed full of only silly personal quips, negative posts, or YouTube channels full of cat videos.

Does this footprint match who you want to be?

It's a little better when you find a Twitter feed that's full of retweets of interesting news and photos, Pinterest boards packed with recipes, and a Facebook profile with "likes" that include books, movies, and music.

And it's even better when your Google search shows evidence that not only do you consume what the internet has to offer, but your create, too. Maybe you post comments on blogs. Maybe you add your own comments when you retweet. This shows you've engaged in conversations on a global level.

Being a consumer and a creator is great... but does any of this really mean your footprint is working for you?

It's one thing to be "not terrible" but what you really want is to be super awesome sauce.

Here are some ideas to help you get started down the path to digital might.

1.Tweet ideas, feedback, and reactions to things that matter. Tweet like the person of substance you want to be.
2. Check the privacy settings of your accounts regularly. Think about making separate accounts for personal stuff (maybe with a different variation of your name) and for your professional self.
3. What you watch on YouTube says a lot about you. What podcasts and vodcasts you follow shows the kind of person you are.
4. Why not follow professionals in your area of interest? Develop your own PLN (personal learning network) to help you keep tabs on what's happening in your field.
5. Post comments on blogs that relate to your area of study. Better yet, create your own blog. Or a Tumblr site. Fill them with articles and ideas you find interesting.