When’s the Last Time You Googled Yourself?
Year after year, significant increases in the number of searches conducted by Web users seeking information about themselves are recorded. Today, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, more than 57% of all online adults 18+ are engaged in one form of reputation management or another. And for good reason.
When it comes to building one’s online identity, most users, say Pew, fall into one of two categories: those who are “careful to protect themselves” and those who “embrace an open approach.” Adopting the latter can be troublesome, particularly among younger adults.
In a recent poll, 44% of those between the ages of 18 and 29 admitted to taking steps to “limit the amount of personal information available.” 71% said they changed their privacy settings often and on sites where photo- or video-sharing is popular, 41% removed their names from tags used to to identify them.
Smart.
We’ve all heard stories about celebrities, politicians or even friends who’ve suffered at the hands of something found online. So before you publish that next post, leave your next comment or tweet your next tweet, remember: you’re putting yourself out there for everyone – your friends, your employer, your clients – to see.
