In earlier days, journal entries, pictures and high school newspapers were contained in boxes in basements, only to be viewed at homecomings and family gatherings. Now, anything online with your name attached to it is fair game for Google searches by blind dates, prospective employers and any internet user with a web browser.
This is what we’re curious about: Has information about you online ever caused you problems? Or maybe they've brought unexpected happy consequences?
We also want to explore the digital “trails” we leave in our wake. How well do these “trails” reflect who we really are? Are these the details we want others to know? And of course, do you have an interesting online “doppleganger” (i.e. someone else with the same name)?
Tell us about a time when your online identity caused real-life problems, or some surprising success. Click here to share your experiences with us or respond below.
If you don't, we might just google you for ourselves.
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Comments: 7
I like that I can share the different online publications I have put my short stories in.
The reason your Gather account comes up in Google is because your name is in the Title of your Gather page (look at the top blue part of your browser that has the X button at the far left) and because your name is in the web site address of your Gather account e.g. sanden.gather.com. Those are two high-priority places Google and other search engines look for keywords.