Googling yourself is becoming acceptable

17-12-2007

by Emmet Ryan

People are Googling themselves in greater numbers than ever before, according to a new study by Pew.

We've all done it, heaven knows why, but be it due to vanity, curiosity or some other reason, people feel a need to look themselves up online. It appears the practice is becoming more acceptable, according to Pew Internet and American Life Project, as the number of people admitting to looking up information about themselves online is on the increase.

The report found that 47 percent of adult internet users in the US have looked for information about themselves on Google and other search engines. Pew asked 1,623 internet users about their views, education, and how they manage information about themselves online. This figure is more than twice the amount that admitted to looking up information about themselves in a similar study in 2002 but still seems startlingly low.

Those under 50 and with a college degree were found to be significantly more likely to self-search than their older and less-educated counterparts, as were those with higher household incomes and those who have broadband at home.

The practice is popular with Irish internet users as well, many of whom use it as a resource to see what other people are likely to find out about them online. "I wanted to see what other people, such as prospective employers, would find if they Googled me," said Kate Fitzgerald, a recent graduate from Dublin City University.

"It was quite easy, generally, although there are quite a few Kate Fitzgeralds in the world who have done more exciting things than I have. Most of it wasn't surprising, mainly archived e-mails from college mailing lists and various interviews," said Fitzgerald.

Ever dedicated to research I did a quick Google of myself for this piece and found that I share my name with a fire officer in DCU and the father of the fictitious character Jack Ryan in Tom Clancy's novels.

This was not the first time I'd Googled myself however, and Fitzgerald said she too re-checks the information every once in a while, which, according to Pew, puts us in the minority.

The study found that only 3 percent of people are likely to re-check their information. This figure should be treated with a hint of suspicion however; considering that less than half of all respondents admitted to looking up information on themselves even once it seems a bit of a stretch to believe the number that did so twice is so low.

Perhaps in another five years re-Googling will no longer be taboo.