'Is Facebook a virtual tattoo?' blog discussion
edited 15 February 2010 at 7:01PM
in Martin's Blogs & Appearances & MoneySavingExpert in the News
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I know I've left an indelible mark on the internet by posting this (I googled myself and found my two previous posts but nothing else...phew
yes, but not one that many teens/twenty-somethings understand - that comes with life experience - you have to make the mistakes to find that out. that's the whole point of growing older and wiser.
Twitter & Iphone apps do this already!
It was all sold on the back of "security" and face recognition software is nearly good enough to connect the tagged photos to the ones that aren't.
Big Brother, Auntie and Uncle are already watching you anyway!
Martin's reference to the Virtual Revolution programme where developers demonstrate their ability to track everything you do online has to be seen to be believed. Retailers value being able to predict what you want and being first to tell you!
We really are creatures of habit and if one of those habits is buying the "next big thing/gadget/toy they will already have you off the various sites.
Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!
how do you want them to picture you....
As far as the Internet goes, Google seems to have trimmed some old stuff out - It only shows 239 results for my email address these days, oldest being 1998. It used to be much more... Thankfully there's a sportsman with my name, which pollutes the results searching for me by name. Serves me right for participating in mailing lists which got archived on multiple websites though. You should see my SPAM folder!!
The camera bit isn't just the younger generation. Thank goodness my MIL is well into her 80's and doesn't have facebook. There is nothing she loves more than taking photos and out comes the camera at every available opportunity. It reached the point where it was impossible to relax and enjoy any party or family do without a camera pointed in your face. OH had to have a word with her in the end because it got so out of hand and photos were being shown to all and sundry regardless of how good or bad they were.
My son has gone to university this year after a summer really ill with depression. Facebook has been a godsend and I wouldn't be without it. I have watched through his and his friends pictures, him settle down, get more sure of himself and get so much more confident. A day or so ago I watched one of his friends bungy jump in a video she posted. Perhaps a future employer seeing that will think she has courage and is prepared to try new things and will employ her because of it. Who knows?
I do think you have to be sensible what you post on facebook and the internet though and be aware that it can be seen by a great many people and is practically impossible to delete.
Some suggestions: On Facebook - work out a name you can use which will still tell those you want to be abl to find you who you are, but without leaving the world and his uncle able to find out more about you that you feel comfortable with them knowing. Consider whether you either want, or need to have your full date of birth available. Do you need to share details like past schools and workplaces? Remember, a common security question these days is "First School?". If you're a mum, be cautious about putting up your Maiden name - chances are your grown up kids will be using this as a password for bank accounts etc and if you have them listed as your kids on your Facebook page as well, well done, you've probably just helped a bank account hacker along his path to their savings! Never, EVER let your address appear online. Google yourself occasionally to check what information is available. Try then googling again with the town or city you live in included - you may well find that it's possible to find out more about yourself online than you realised. If you find information you're not comfortable with contact website administrators etc to ask them to remove it - I've never had one turn me down yet. If you use pets names as passwords as so many folk would, never put up a photo of that pet, with your name and the pets name on it.
All of the above is that common sense thing I was referring to - it's not paranoia, it't not an over-reaction to a "fuss about nothing" - it's keeping yourself and your life secure in the same way as locking the house when you leave.
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