What is Truly Private?

    I googled my name this morning. Luckily, I didn't feel deflated or lose my dignity in the process but I know that many others who google themselves can't say the same. When I typed the keywords "Merran Decker" into the search bar, my top results were overwhelmingly connected to my LinkedIn account, Instagram profile, and marketing featurettes for the university. This professional presence is consistent with how I prefer to appear online. However, when I clicked on images, there was a cringe-worthy picture sprinkled in from my fifth-grade musical theater group.  I think most of us can agree that there's at least one thing we're embarrassed about circulating on the web, and the scary thing is that it's just a few clicks away from being viewed by the masses. 

    As Entrepreneur online magazine said it best, when we consider the risks to our online privacy, there's no such thing as low stakes anymore. Regardless of how hard we may try to control our digital presence, there's an inevitable element of unpredictability to how our computers and websites store information about us. There are real-world consequences to having information about ourselves online, and here are a few surprising statistics about this modern phenomenon: 

• 20% of people find outdated or flat out inaccurate information by googling themselves 
• 12% are "unpleasantly surprised" by what they find though it may not be necessarily incorrect
• 8%, unfortunately, uncover embarrassing or reputation-damaging information 

    One manner in which the issue of online privacy impacts my college demographic is that many of us are either currently working to build our resumes or are searching for future careers. Potential employers often scan the web before interviews, and there are a few key strategies college students can capitalize on to maximize productive search results and protect themselves online. 

1. Avoid oversharing with the public on social media platforms
2. Develop a professional profile on LinkedIn
3. Remove or hide embarrassing content that is within your power to control
4. Monitor tagged photos for inappropriate information or content
5. Select new connections or followers carefully and block any suspicious accounts

                            

                           

    It's no surprise that our information is far less secure than it used to be, and we ourselves are likely to blame. Since the release of the first iPhone in 2007, we as a society have been able to access emails, conduct research, partake in social media, and have a world of seemingly endless information at our fingertips. However, this feeling of digital freedom comes at a steep cost when considering how tech companies more than ever are now able to track personal information such as location, photos, and buyer preferences. This startling occurrence thus raises the integral question: what anymore is truly private?