Have you ever Googled your name? At least once a week, I conduct a Google search to see what interesting information I can dig up. I want to see what pops up because I know people try to look things up. New clients, friends, and strangers want to see who I am and what I’m about outside of what I’ve already told them. Since I don’t have social media, they’re probably even more curious.
What happens when we enter our names into a search engine?
Throughout the years, my college writing has been the #1 Google search result. I’ve always been proud of that period of my life; it was when I fell in love with reporting, interviewing people, and editing on a larger scale.
Within the past few months, the college writing dropped to page 2 of the Google search results. Other stories began ranking higher: my article about Colin Wright, my Orlando Date Night Guide articles, and more.
Other websites, like Radaris, Whitepages, Spokeo, and more pop up. I’ve removed most of my information from those websites because I find them to be invasive – even if this is public information.
But the strangest – and funniest – result I’ve found is information about me, personally. According to a report, I am married (nope), Hispanic (nope), and – wait for it – my net worth value is greater than $499,999!! WOW! I am really living the life!
What you see is not always what you get.
Seeing that search result also worried me. How many people read that and thought, wow, that’s who she is? I’m not worried that people think that about me, but I’m worried when people believe it. There are so many resources out there now…TOO many resources. Too many websites, and too much access to information.
The driver next to us might cause a car accident because he or she is too busy reading that information on his or her device. Because that’s more important than his or her own life, right?
Should we limit our access to information?
I always wonder…Since when did we need to know the latest news at a stoplight? Will the world REALLY stop if we don’t read a story or check a text message at that exact moment?
It’s crazy we live in a technological world now where we can watch cruel and unusual videos, videos that no one should ever see in their lifetime, not even in a movie, right in the palm of our hands. And that’s the problem: we forget what is real, and what is entertainment.
Screens were traditionally associated with movie theaters and televisions (entertainment). The Apple II provided us with the first color graphics PC in 1977. IBM Simon, released in 1992, was the first touchscreen / smartphone. But only recently did we become obsessed with staring at little blue screens for hours on end.
We blur the lines because we have access to the information at our fingertips. The access to information entices us to watch a video, stalk our ex, or read a clickbait story. We do it because we can. Because we’re entitled. Because we worked hard and we need a break. But none of those are good reasons for pushing boundaries too far.
Remember what’s important.
We need to set expectations. Boundaries. Moralities. Remembering what is right and what is wrong. Temptation is everywhere. I might be going off on a rant here, but you get my point.
If we want our kids to grow up and play outside or be intelligent, then that starts with our own habits and our own decisions. Let’s put down the devices when we know they’re dragging us down and we’ve extended our screen time.
Don’t stare at the screen at lunch. Or at the red light. Or when we’re right in front of someone. Let’s be present and access the information right in front of us. From our boss, from a book, from our company resource, from a podcast. Something that is informative, reliable, and reputable. Let’s not sacrifice our own humanity for cheap thrills.