Googling People

Thursday, November10, 2011. That is the date I published a blog discussing the difference between searching and stalking. Another article has come out since and is perfect for my final blog. “The dos and don’ts of Googling people” is an article that elaborates more on the issue and explains the correct etiquette to follow when Googling. There is a definite difference between Googling your work contacts, your date and yourself. 

Looking up work contacts on Google is completely acceptable according to the article. One should want to know who they are working with and what they are all about. If they can find information about them online, it may be beneficial to their relationship at work. However, people do have to be weary of what they bring up at work. Be careful about bringing up subjects that may be touchy. If it is a borderline topic, do not bring it up unless they bring it up. 

Looking up your date is acceptable to a point. It is okay to look up someone to confirm their identity or to get some points of interest to talk about. Once that information is found, one should exit the browser. Any more digging and that may classify one as a creeper. Let that person convey themselves through the date after the initial information is found. 

Looking up your information on Google is very beneficial. The technological age we live in gives us access to essentially any persons information. One has to be careful of what they put out online. Googling yourself can show you just what kind of dirt the internet has on you. Someday your future employers may search Google and see something that you don’t want them to see. This gives you some time to clean up what Google brings up about you. The article shares that you should set up a Google Alert for your name to make sure you aren’t being confused with anybody else. Click on the Google Alert link to learn more. 

It seems silly to be talking about the acceptable etiquette when Googling people, but it apparently has become a problem. Using the correct etiquette may save you in the future. However, don’t overuse Google and become a stalker. It might also be a good idea to Google yourself. Clean up your image on Google before your future relationships and employers get the wrong impression.

Unwanted Friends

Something everyone has gone through with social media; unwanted friend requests. Anyone and everyone involved with social media have experienced this. Believe it or not, unwanted friend requests can cause stress. Whether it is your boss, relative or parent, deciding not to add them can be a difficult process. “How to handle unwanted friend requests” is an article that explains how one can avoid this situation and/or get through it smoothly. 

The first option is to simply ignore the friend request. Facebook has the option of hitting the “not now” button which leaves the friend request lost in space. This is a very useful tactic and demands little or no stress. The person requesting the friendship may not ever know. Perfect! 

The second option is to accept the friend request and then alter your privacy settings. However, changing your Facebook privacy settings may require some time. It is not a simple solution, but is a definite option.

The third option is to reject and speak up. Reject the friend request and share the reasoning with the person the next time you see them. Anything from “I don’t add co-workers” to “Here is my number instead” will work. 

The fourth option is to clean up. Clean up the site that you may not want certain people to see. This may be a good wakeup call for you. The professional world may require you to have a clean profile anyways. 

Social media is blowing up the digital world and beginning to cause stress? A simple stress like accepting or rejecting a friend doesn’t seem like much, but what if the problem continues to grow. What if this is just the beginning? It seems silly to think about, but people are actually having troubles with the issue. 

Adding or rejecting a friend on Facebook should be the last of our worries. Don’t let social media consume you to the point that it runs your life. It is a useful tool, but make sure to separate yourself from it. There are worse things to stress about. Stressing about unwanted friend requests should be the last of our worries!