Digital Tattoo
My Digital Tattoo
Image Source: Profitable Social Media
Whatever we do in life, we seem to leave a trail or trace of ourselves. The same can be said about our digital life. Everything we do online leaves a mark, like a tattoo. When we create a social media account on Facebook or Instagram, we leave a permanent part of ourselves in the digital world.
I decided to look up my digital tattoo by locating as much information as possible about myself online. Before conducting this search I reflected on what I believe I would find. I think there will definitely be a digital tattoo or trace of my presence online. I use social media on a daily basis and have a few active accounts. I wonder besides my social media accounts what else might I find? Are there any more Joseline Snyder out there?
Data Mine
Image Source: Author Screenshot using Firefox
Image Source: Author screenshot using Safari
I started by searching my first and last name in quotation marks and using different browsers to search my names. I used Chrome, Firefox and Safari. Above you will see two examples of the first results I received when Googling "Joseline Snyder" using Safari and Firebox. It is interesting to see that based on the browser, I got somewhat different top hits. I found out that there are not a lot of Joseline Snyder's out there. At least not with the same spelling. A lot of the search results were linked to myself and not a random stranger with the same name. This had me curious what other results of myself I would find if I expand on searching websites through these web browsers.
Deep Dive
1) Using Chrome web browser: Peoplefinders.com
Image Source: Screenshot by author using peoplefinders.com
The first website I decided to do do a deep dive on myself was Peoplefinders.com. This result worried me a little. Not only did my maiden name appear but the names of close relatives, like my husband, parents and siblings popped up. This website also accurately showed most of the cities and states I have lived in. I am always careful to never post about my location or address but somehow this information is easily available to anyone who has an internet connection. This was a little scary.
2) Using Chrome browser: Socialmention.com
I have never heard of this website before conducting this search on myself. I again got not results for my name. I tried searching using my email address and any username or handles that I could've used for my social media or digital accounts. The results ended the same, there was no mention of my information or digital presence.
3) Using Chrome browser: www.familytreenow.com
Not only did this website list me as the number one hit but it had my family's names and all my past address available! This was truly eye opening for me to see my current and past address listed for anyone to see or use.
4) Using Safari web browser: Facebook.com
I have had Facebook since the website launched and wanted to verify where in the results I would fall. I was not too surprised to see that my profile was the number one hit and there were not many other Joseline Snyders out there. I do have my Facebook profile on private but it still gave the user a little bit of information about myself, like where I currently live and what school I attend.
5) Using Safari Web Browser: Youtube.com
When searching for my name I did not expect much since I do not post or like videos on Youtube. The conclusion was that there were no results for "Joseline Snyder". I did get results for the celebrity Joseline Hernandez and her show Joseline's Cabaret.
6) Using Firefox web browser: Spokeo.com
Image source: Screenshot by author using Spokeo.com
I was shocked at the results for this website. Apparently I do not exist on this website. When conducting this deep dive search of myself, this is the first instance in which there were absolutely no results for my name. I was curious and changed the spelling of my name to "Jocelyn Snyder" and completed another search. There were some results but them of them matched my information.
7) Using Firebox web browser: blockshopper.com
I again tried using websites I have not heard of or used in the past. This was one of them. I again was given no results for my name, handle, username or current address. It made me wonder how some of these websites are getting their information or where they are getting their sources from. I also currently live in a rental unit on a military base, so I wonder if that has something to do with limited results for my address?
Final Thoughts
Overall, I was surprised and concerned with the results I found. I was surprised that some websites had so much more information about me than others. Some websites did not even have a record of me but others had my current address information! It would be interesting to see the metadata or sources these websites use to collect information. It makes you wonder, what other information about you is out there? This video gives us a glimpse of what digital information about us is out there and how easy it could be to access it.
In regards to teaching these skills to students, I think it can be beneficial. If students are able to successfully use social media then it may be time for them to learn how to use it effectively. I think the responsibility of teaching students about digital tattoos is a collaboration between all the adults in a students' life. It is easy to say its only the parents/guardian's responsibility when all students do not have the same home life as others. Students need to understand that every time they post something online or create a social media account they are leaving their digital tattoo for others to see. It is relevant for students and others to know the significance of their digital tattoo. It tells others what type of person you are, what you like to do and even where you live. It gives others a glimpse of who you are and what you stand for. This knowledge is power and students should know how to use it wisely.
References
Amazing mind reader reveals his “gift.” (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7pYHN9iC9I
Hey!
ReplyDeleteI agree I was surprised how easy it was to find information about me, and how much information there was to be found!
I also think that it is super beneficial to teach our students about this. Especially as a high school teacher! My students are always posting things, and I want them to understand that when they post they need to be mindful of what they share and how they share it!
Hi Joseline, it seems we had similar experiences and reactions to viewing our personal information online. My address being exposed on PeopleFinder also scared me quite a bit, because while I do not have a stalker, this would be valuable information for a person like that to cause trouble. I would hate for any harm come to anyone who has had information like this leaked online.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part was your final thoughts section. First, I love the video you shared- one of the more convincing ways to get the point across. Second, I agree that it really would be fascinating to see where all of the data is being pulled from. I believe some of these companies might even have the same owners! Finally, excellent point about students that decide to get on social media are old enough to learn positive management of these platforms as well.
ReplyDeleteHi Joseline! I enjoyed reading your posts, I thought you brought very interesting insight to the topic of digital tattoos. I like how describe that whenever we use the internet, create accounts and make posts, it's like an ink tattoo in that digital tattoos leave a mark. I think that's a great way of looking at it!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was really fascinating how your searches primarily gave you information about yourself over other people with your same name. I had the opposite results, most of the top search results were for women who shared my first and last names instead. I also really enjoyed reading your final thoughts on digital tattoos. I agree with your view that teaching children about safety online and how what they post leaves a mark, it requires the guidance of all the adults in a child's life, including teachers, not only their parents and legal guardians.