Internet users are becoming more aware of their own digital footprint. 47% have searched for information about themselves online, up from just 22% five years ago. However, few monitor their online presence with great regularity. Just 3% of self-searchers report that they make a regular habit of it and 74% have checked up on their digital footprints only once or twice.
60% of Internet users say they are not worried about how much information is available about them online, and most do not take steps to limit that information.
Why not google your own name today to see what information is available online?
Learn more by reading the Pew/Internet report “Digital Footprints: Online identity management and search in the age of transparency.”
I think the 60 percent that don’t care what information is out there should think twice. If anything false is out there about you it can effect you in lots of ways.
http://www.ldsartcollector.com/
Along with Googling for names, including other types of info can be eye-opening as well. Like SSN, Driver’s License #, IP address, etc.
You never know what will turn up.
Online profiles, such as FaceBook and MySpace, are becoming very popular with the youth. Some youth post inappropriate language or photos. Some of our youth get the impression that anything they post online in their profiles can only be seen by their peers. Not so! Parents should counsel their youth to remember the church standards in whatever they say online.
By the way, when you google your name, put it in quotes. For example, I type “shayne packer”. It’s also interesting to compare the number of search results from time to time.
One way I try to mitigate that risk as the bishop of my ward is to become “friends” with all the youth in my ward who have Facebook accounts. I occasionally post messages on their “walls.” That way, they are reminded that their bishop can see everything on their sites. I think it helps them be more appropriate.
The best thing to do to monitor your name or reputation is to set up a Google Alert. If you do so, you don’t need to remember to do your Google search every once and a while–any time Google crawls and comes across what you want to be alerted about, you’ll get an email notice.