Vanity Search

I completed a quick vanity search to see where my digital footprint would lead me. I tried different variations of my name, using my maiden name plus my married name, just married name, just my maiden name, throwing in a middle name and middle initial. I then tried adding other keywords: where I live, where I work, where I grew up, and where I went to school. Anything I could think of might be a tag word for myself. I was able to locate many accurate hits: Facebook, Twitter, US Phonebook, an Esty Shop, Pinterest, YouTube Channel, tennis records, and foundations that we are donors to. The accurate information was buried in some not-so-true hits. One site listed me as a principal working for the Department of Defense. Another said I was a mental health professional with a practice in Florida. Several surprising hits listed me as deceased! I try to keep tabs on my digital footprint and limit the access that I put out there. When I had my first child, I was very active on social media, posting everything we did. But after some thought, I realized that wasn’t what I wanted for him. I am forever thankful that I grew up in a time when every decision we made didn't get posted somewhere. I also like that for my children and try to be mindful of how much of their lives are captured forever on the web. I think this was a good exercise and one that I should do more often to keep tabs on what is out there waiting to be discovered.