Managing your Online Profile

1. Managing your Online Profile Sarah Morris UT Libraries What does this mean and why should you care?

2. Your online identity is the online version of you, but… You don’t really own it You can’t totally control it You can’t choose who sees it It can exist without your permission

3. Social media and online reputation reports by the Pew Internet and American Life Project A 2010 Pew Report indicates that 57% of internet users have searched for information on themselves online As of 2010, 46% of internet users search online for info on people from their past, and 38% search on their current friends A 2011 Pew Report indicates that 65% of all online adults use social networking sites.

4. Think of as many pieces of information as you can… What is in your online identity?

5. Digital Dossier • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79IYZVYIVLA&feature=share&list=UUc5qMBRg6Uw21wum4jZLhPQ

6. What constitutes your online identity? • Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn • Google+ • Pinterest • Blogs • YouTube • Anything on the Web! • Image courtesy http://pallino1021.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/social-media-2012.png

7. Why is this relevant to me? A recent Forbes article reports that 37% of companies admit to using social media profiles to help determine a candidate’s “character and personality” • http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2012/06/14/social-media-and-the-job-hunt-sqeaky-clean-facebook-profiles/ • Chart: Recruiters and HR professionals who have rejected candidates based on data found online vs. consumers who think online data affected their job search http://www.microsoft.com/security/resources/research.aspx

8. How do you/could you manage your online identity?

9. What can you do? • Think twice • Does this really belong on the web? • Search engines make it easy to find information out of context • Tackle it at the source • If you don’t like something, first try to remove it from the site at which it’s appearing • Proactively publish information • Join the conversation • Be your own advocate Know your options • Many sites have privacy controls, settings, and tools to help you manage your personal information. Learn more tips at Google’s Manage Your Online Reputation Portal http://support.google.com/accounts/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1228138

10. Online identity case study: beyoncé In a recent GQ interview, Beyoncé spoke about her extensive digital archive where she saves everything from published articles to emails, from recorded live performances to personal video diaries. Beyoncé is doing two things here that you can adopt in your own digital life: • First, she’s making a conscious effort to save things. You produce a lot of digital content in your daily life, so it’s worthwhile to think about – • Where is this content? Where is it stored? • Who has access to it? Can you get to it easily? • Is your content stored securely? • Second, Beyoncé is consciously managing her image and her reputation by keeping her digital media stored safely and under her control. Source: http://www.gq.com/women/photos/201301/beyonce-cover-story-interview-gq-february-2013 Images courtesy Vanity Fair and The Guardian

11. See what’s out there! Google yourself Also check WebMii.com Spokeo.com Pipl.com

12. Facebook Manners • http://www.bestofyoutube.com/story.php?title=facebook-manners-and-you

13. Use privacy settings NY Times’ 3 Settings Every User Should Check • What Google can see • Who can see the things you share • Who can see your personal info http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2010/01/20/20readwriteweb-the-3-facebook-settings-every-user-should-c-29287.html?em

14. Privacy on facebook • The Huffington Post published 9 privacy settings you should monitor on Facebook. These include … • Who sees your personal data • Who sees what information you share • Who sees photos you’re tagged in • Whether friends can check you into places • What data apps and other sites can access • What friends can share about you • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/18/facebook-privacy-tips-settings-to-check_n_850495.html#s265432&title=If_Search_Engines

15. Privacy settings on facebook • Visit Facebook’s privacy page for information on setting and managing your privacy settings. • http://www.facebook.com/help/privacy

16. RESOURCES TO HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR PRIVACY SimpleWash -- http://www.simplewa.sh/login • An app that helps you clean up your Facebook history (Twitter functionality coming soon). PrivacyFix -- https://www.privacyfix.com/start • A browser plug-in (for Chrome and Firefox right now) monitors your privacy settings on Facebook, Google, and the Web and alerts you if your information is being made public in any way. PrivacyFix is working on Android and iOS apps now too. SocioClean -- http://www.socioclean.com/ • Scans your social media and alerts you when something is inappropriate Image courtesy PrivacyFix.com

17. Privacy and social media • The Pew Internet and American Life project reports that more and more internet users are actively managing their privacy online. • http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Privacy-management-on-social-media.aspx • Remember to … • Be aware of the privacy settings for all of your social media accounts • Stay up to date with changes to a site’s privacy policy

18. Mobile apps • The Pew Internet and American Life Project’s Mobile Report (2012) reports that … • 45% of American adults own smartphones. • 74% of Smartphone owners get real-time location-based data on their phone and 18% check in places • Over half of all smartphone users have not downloaded or have uninstalled apps due to privacy concerns • Smartphone apps can often • Sync with other social media accounts • Broadcast or use location-based data • Location-based apps can let the world know where you are • Image courtesy thenextweb.com

19. Mobile App Security • Tips for using Smartphone apps • Research apps before downloading them • Look at the app’s privacy policy • Turn off the app’s GPS functionality except for essential apps • Passwordprotect your phone • Clear cookies and history on your phone just like you would on a computer • With location-based apps, look at the type and specificity of information being shared • Tips adapted from http://mashable.com/2012/06/04/settings-location-based-apps/ and http://adlerlaw.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/seven-basic-smartphone-privacy-tips-to-minimize-data-sharing-risks/

20. 3 Tips for Managing Your Online Reputation You are your network Your settings are private, but what about your friends’? Own your username If you can’t delete, compete There’s a cottage industry around “Reputation Protection” Google Alerts is a great, free tool for this! Sites like PrivacyFix, SocioClean, and SimpleWashcan help you clean up and monitor your social media. From Antony Mayfield via mashable.com

21. Further resources • Social network aggregators • Ping.fm • FriendFeed • Help removing information • Google Dashboard • The Data Liberation Front • For removing stored personal data from Google products • Calculate your digital footprint http://www.emc.com/digital_universe/downloads/web/personal-ticker.htm#at

22. Questions? Contact the instructor at smorris@austin.utexas.edu