LLN Digital Literacy Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does it mean for information posted online to leave a 'digital footprint'?
- A trail of data about your online activity that can be tracked or found by others (Correct answer)
- A type of computer virus
- A setting that deletes all your data automatically
- A feature only found on social media apps
Correct answer: A trail of data about your online activity that can be tracked or found by others
A digital footprint is the trail of data — posts, searches, purchases, activity — a person leaves behind while using digital services.
A digital footprint includes both active data (posts, comments, uploads you intentionally share) and passive data (browsing history, location data, app activity collected in the background). Understanding this concept is a core digital literacy skill because it helps people make informed choices about privacy settings and what they share publicly.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'cloud storage'?
- Storing files on remote servers accessed over the internet instead of only on a local device (Correct answer)
- A folder that only exists on your computer's hard drive
- A type of printer
- A setting that permanently deletes old files
Correct answer: Storing files on remote servers accessed over the internet instead of only on a local device
Cloud storage keeps files on remote servers, allowing access from multiple devices with an internet connection.
Cloud storage services store data on remote servers maintained by a provider, rather than solely on a local device's hard drive. This allows access from multiple devices and locations with an internet connection, and often includes automatic backup, which is why it's widely used for both personal and workplace file storage.
Question 3: When collaborating on a shared online document, which practice best avoids losing someone's edits?
- Working in real time with version history enabled, and communicating about who is editing which section (Correct answer)
- Multiple people editing the same paragraph simultaneously without communication
- Saving separate copies on each person's device and merging manually later
- Deleting sections you don't think are needed without checking first
Correct answer: Working in real time with version history enabled, and communicating about who is editing which section
Real-time collaboration tools with version history let teams track and recover changes, while communication prevents overlapping edits.
Shared online documents typically include version history, allowing teams to see and restore previous versions if something is lost or overwritten. Combined with clear communication about who is working on which section, this greatly reduces the risk of lost work compared to manually merging separate saved copies or editing the same section simultaneously without coordination.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a software or app 'update'?
- To fix bugs, patch security vulnerabilities, and sometimes add new features (Correct answer)
- To permanently delete the app
- To always change the app's name
- It has no functional purpose
Correct answer: To fix bugs, patch security vulnerabilities, and sometimes add new features
Updates commonly fix security vulnerabilities and bugs, and sometimes introduce new features or performance improvements.
Software updates are released for several reasons: patching security vulnerabilities that could otherwise be exploited, fixing bugs that cause crashes or errors, improving performance, and occasionally adding new features. Delaying updates, especially security patches, leaves a device more vulnerable to known exploits, which is why digital literacy guidance recommends installing updates promptly.
Question 5: Which setting adjustment most directly helps control who can see your posts on a social media platform?
- Privacy settings that control audience visibility for posts and profile information (Correct answer)
- Changing your profile picture
- Increasing your screen brightness
- Turning off notifications
Correct answer: Privacy settings that control audience visibility for posts and profile information
Privacy settings specifically control who can view your posts, profile details, and activity — not appearance or notification settings.
Most social media and online platforms include dedicated privacy settings that let users control the audience for posts (public, friends only, specific groups) and limit visibility of profile details like contact information or birthdate. Cosmetic settings like a profile picture or device settings like screen brightness have no effect on who can see your shared content.
Question 6: Before sharing a news article online, which action best supports responsible digital citizenship?
- Verifying the claim through at least one other reputable source before sharing (Correct answer)
- Sharing immediately if the headline seems believable
- Sharing only if it confirms your own opinion
- Assuming all articles from social media are accurate
Correct answer: Verifying the claim through at least one other reputable source before sharing
Verifying a claim against another reputable source before sharing helps prevent the spread of misinformation.
Responsible digital citizenship includes pausing to verify information before amplifying it, since sharing unverified or false claims can contribute to the spread of misinformation. Cross-checking a claim against at least one other reputable, independent source is a widely taught digital literacy practice, regardless of how believable a headline seems or whether it matches personal opinion.
LLN Digital Literacy Skills 2
What does it mean for information posted online to leave a 'digital footprint'?