We Are Not Alone

No, this is not an entry about aliens but something much scarier: our virtual identities.

Most people under 25 don't much care about such a pesky thing; those 25-33 are wary but have jumped on the bandwagon; those older than that are still figuring out Twitter and Facebook. But nearly all people on the planet have at least 1 email address, social network account, and random snipets of identity easily googled at any moment. Increasingly, these things are meshing together.

A CNN article today claims that Google Buzz will catch on, mostly because the networking platform is already solidly established. Buzz essentially allows Google email users to blend status and postings elements similar to Facebook, Twitter and messaging. It already has a cross agreement with AIM and our favorite, Blogger! Add these types of self-posting forms with expanding online public records and you've got a hot mess of data zipping around.

This leads one to consider what the ramifications might be. How can one possibly keep secrets for business strategy, security, or personal gain? Will trail evidence need to be expanded (especially if one "confesses" online)? Will the concept of lying be eliminated? Will we eventually have one online identity that records every minutia? Will our social circles meld with our professional ones?

If these things happen I hedge a bet that getting a job will be much harder...as well as a date (who wants to date a neo-nazi with a Kabbala interest?). We should all remember what our mama taught us and be on our best behavior...

You never know who's watching....(cue scary music)