windemere | (no subject)

I've gone on a purge of my online presence. I'm reading this really interesting book about Digital Natives (people born after 1980 in the First World). It makes a fair few good points about how kids and teens these days don't realize how much of their identity is online and it made me stop and think: how much of mine is?

A scary amount, actually. Since more employers and prospective universities are checking out online identity to make their decisions, I thought it was time to clean up anything I don't want people to see. So, I think I've hit everything. Deleted a few accounts I don't use, made sure the first 5 pages of Google search for each of my aliases don't bring up anything I don't want them too, and shortened my public profiles. Not to mention privatizing a lot of my accounts. There's still a few things, which is the worrying part, that I *can't* get rid of that aren't incriminating, but that I don't want public. But see, that's the thing, you don't get a choice in the matter.

It amuses me what stories show up in Google when I search 'Aromene'. But none when I search Eldanna, which means FF.net is doing what it's supposed to.

My kids will be screwed. But step number one is: be careful about how you share baby photos. In twenty years, your kids will not want those on their online dossier.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Um...how do I make mine disappear like yours?

Any place you can up your privacy setting so that search engines can't find you, do so. Anywhere you can delete your real name, or at least your last name, do so. Anything you don't use anymore, delete.

I have no idea why Nano comes up. Mine doesn't. If you want other people to be careful about mentioning you, then tell them, or post a disclaimer. First and foremost people will search for your real name. The key is to make sure that something you WANT people to see comes up in the first page of Google. They are less likely to search further, if something is easy for them to see.