Who Is G O_o gling You?

This is a short article I wrote in reference to the power of Google.

Imagine it’s your first day at a new job. You’re running late and your hair is out of whack. As you run in, you grab your seat and find a note from your boss saying he wants to see you. Chills run down your spine as you enter his office and he politely asks you to shut the door. You shut the door and take a seat directly opposite him. He looks at you, looks back at his computer monitor, and looks at you and back. This goes on for a few minutes until finally, he says, “Sarah, I had no idea you were into that kind of thing” as he turns the monitor toward you revealing a picture of you and your ex from three summers ago posing for a nude art painting in Strasbourg. What’s worse is that this company prides itself on its high morals and great business ethics. Suddenly, your boss says, “We’re going to have to let you go, I’m very sorry.”

How did your boss find these god-awful photos and/or paintings of you? Simple. He “Googled” you.

It’s becoming more and more commonplace to Google someone and find out anything you may or may not want to know about your friends, neighbors or co-workers. Social networks such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter are also playing a huge role in finding out anything you want to know about a person. Prospective employers can read everything they want to know and potentially contact your friends and previous co-workers before you even arrive for an interview! As an article in the Wall Street Journal recently stated*, employers are relying more and more on social networks to find out more about a potential candidate than what’s on their application or resume. With resources such as LinkedIn and Jobster, employers are able to pry into your business without interrupting theirs.

 

Unfortunately on average, 50 million times a day, someone is “Googled”**. Any information you may or may not have posted about you could appear on anyone’s computer screen in a matter of mere seconds.  Anything anyone has posted true or untrue could potentially pop up on your future employer's screen. If you have any enemies, God only knows what they could have posted about you on the Internet!

So, the question is, should employers be able to Google prospective/current employees or not? If so, could this be an invasion of privacy?

 

I am a huge believer in the “rule of threes”. If you’ve never heard of this rule, let me explain. The “rule of threes” is simply this: if three completely unrelated resources have the same thing to say about you, then it must be true. Now, although this rule could have its faults, generally, it’s true. I believe that it’s perfectly all right to Google someone and find out information or learn more about a person by using any resources possible, but should this information be used against them or keep the person from employment? I am not so sure.

 

As stated in my earlier example, Sarah had pictures that someone posted on the internet from three years prior to her current position and yet, the employer used them as an excuse to fire her. Countless other people have been sent “Dear John” letters before even getting an interview due to harmful information leaked on the Internet!

“Googling” people on the Internet is becoming commonplace today. Employers can and have used this information to decide on candidates, and countless other people have access to your personal information as well. Although it is definitely an invasion of privacy, Google and other search engines like it aren’t going to go away. Lesson? Be careful what you post on any websites! Your future boss could be watching.

 

*http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119085046508840665.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

 

**http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/15336943/detail.html

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Reviews

[aj milton]

I think people are becoming more aware of the reality that you highlight.

And some of us go the opposite extreme... I don't have a personal facebook account not even for real friends and family. I write under a pen name. I dont use LinkedIN even at work..

Who am I? Do I really exist? Help! I'm invisible

[The Iron Horseman]

No, you're not! They can track you by your TCPIP address or your MacID if they are prepared to make the effort.

[aj milton]

OMG - who are "They" ?

Seriously though you are perfectly right, but it is possible to limit ones online footprint. I am serious in the sense that if I google my real name, none of the first 100 responses are anywhere near me. Even if I add a location within 10 miles of my real home address Google still can't find me! That's damage limitation.

[The Iron Horseman]

I agree with you there. That is precisely why I use a pseudonym. I just wanted you to be aware that you are not as invisible as you might think!

[richieb]

The Big Brother is watching you that came from communist Russia has now surfaced in the U.S.A. We are now prone to fears and paranoia about ourselves and family. With the speed of new technology it is only going to get worse.
Thank you for the interesting topic.
Richie b.

[Bear]

That is the bad side of this technology, when I was a kid we made the same kind of mistakes as kids today make, the difference is on locally was our mistakes known and forgotten over time. With the internet the whole world knows your shame and it may never be forgotten. Facebook and twitter could be a persons worst friend. Great message I hope everyone reads it and learns from it. Standing Ovation! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

[jrc]

Thank you for this advice!

[Mr.Writer]

The message you passed out was very eye opening and was 100% true! They've talked about this in high school as well, that your colleagues or bosses will search day and night for any info about you as it will be somewhere on google...
Very well informed piece Anastasia.. :)
It was way better than my torch sticks :D

[Surya]

Yeap it's true and I agree..:)
I liked your message..:)

[Joey Nizz]

Google can sure be scandalous rather than being helpful like how it should be.

Thank you for this eye opening piece.

[Chris]

So true, Anastasia. Excellent writing.