My SALT results are a little lacking. My only impact in the online world that’s traceable back to my real name is my facebook page, which has been defunct since 2019, when I was in 12th grade. Everything you can learn about me from that page is scant. Even then, much of that information is outdated or a joke in the post-surreal style from the time. My last post was six years ago, and I have not used it since. All else is simply different Rileys or different Crockers (not related to me) or different Riley Crockers (also not related to me).

My footprint is virtually non-existent, because I have taken good care not to use my real name on the internet when I do anything. Not that I’ve done anything particularly inflammatory, I’m just a ridiculously insular and private person. Academia, and by extension society as a whole, is not meant for insular or private people by definition, so I should at least make it look like there’s something there so I can thrive in the environment chosen for me by accident of being born a human being. This will be a good thing: Having a blank slate just means that you can create whatever image you want.

Likely, I’ll improve my digital footprint by:

• Creating a Linkedin profile used for professional capacity, so any future employers or collaborators know who I am at a glance.
• Make sure to make my name visible on any projects I undertake in the future, so that they can be traced back to me.
• Create a website that I can use to promote my work in general; perhaps I’ll try to hack it as an author if I can’t make it in history.

Overall, I was satisfied by how little my activity could be traced back to me. In a world where many of us feel entitled to insist on knowing everything about each other, I’ve always been a big believer in the idea that we should all know less about each other, and that nobody should know anything about me. Unfortunately, I must be perceived in order to make my way in this world, which means I have to curate an exhausting simulacrum to make people think they know me. This forced illusion is one of the drawbacks of the internet age (an age with many benefits), but I’m sure it will make me a more desirable candidate for the Powers That Be if I can convince them I’m Totally Normal and that I can Stand Out Among My Peers.