Social media 
5 Comments Proving our existence
Recently, I needed to prove the existence of someone. I never met this person before; I only encountered them online. In this day and age of the Internet, you turn to Google when you have this sort of question.
I don’t typically Google every person I chat with on social media but I was suspicious of this situation. Turns out, I was right. This person’s name did not turn up in any Google search that I entered. But I feel it’s unfortunate that we have to use the Internet now to say we exist. I even asked Mack Male if I should be concerned when I can’t find a person’s name in a Google search and he said, “Yes.”
There now may be a small percentage of people who don’t have some sort of profile on the Internet. I’m guessing that percentage includes mainly seniors who haven’t touched a computer, including one of my uncles.
We’ve become so depended on Google for these types of answers. My question is should we be so dependent? With this dependence, I believe we have lost trust in others and perhaps, society. Before Google and the Internet, we didn’t question if someone was real because we usually talked to them on the phone or met them in person. Now anyone can create a social media profile and pretend to be another person. To prove that they are “real”, they need to exist on Google or we take our chances and meet them in real life. We’ve become that dependent on the Internet.
Although I dislike relying on this tool for researching someone’s background, Google saved my butt from getting into a very uncomfortable situation. With social media, we are encountering more people than we ever have before. It has opened doors for me to meet wonderful people. While there are wonderful people, there are always a few questionable ones who we must be cautious about. And like it or not, I will use Google to find out if they say who they really are.
@TamaraVineberg Reading that gave me shivers, I don’t like that someone presented themselves and doesn’t exist. Creepy.
I don’t know if that is entirely accurate. I have had to track down MIA clients and not been able to find them with Google or with Copernic. However they do exist as we opened investment accounts for them and verified their identity at the time.
However, the basic gist of what you are saying IS concerning. Ti’s like the book 1984 where your every move is tracked by Big Brother. Only in our world Big Brother is corporations, not the government.
Very interesting Tamara! I actually find, surprisingly, many people who don’t have much show up in a google search, especially if they have good privacy settings in their FB (if they even have it). Many of my clients and many of my family and friends, but admittedly they aren’t big tech people. They aren’t all grandparent age either. They are often busy professionals who use more traditional marketing methods (lawyers in the case of my clients). So while google searches are very handy, a lack of profile is not always reason to be concerned (in my case I’ve learned to use other verification methods).
Interesting piece, Tamara!
I usually google people that I don’t know before I meet them, although I won’t make a decision about them based on if nothing comes up in a google search. I will also ask other friends and people I know to see if they know anything about the person I’m looking into.
On a positive note, I also like to google people I know I will be meeting at makor networking event- knowing a bit more about their pet projects has definitely opened doors for interesting conversations!
Thanks for your comment Danielle. By using Google to search people, it is like stalking them, isn’t it?