GN Commentary: March 5, 2009 - Google Never Forgets

How important is your reputation? A good name, or a good reputation, is very important!

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Video Transcript

Kimberly Swann said her job was boring. The problem is, she posted her comment on Face Book. Her boss saw it and she was fired!

Shakespeare's famous line, "All the world's a stage," has literally come true with the Internet—and people everywhere are clambering up on that stage to make a name for themselves. Or at least get recognized and socialized by hundreds of their closest friends – self-constructed celebrity.

Consider these facts about Facebook: There are now more than 175 million active users; if Facebook were a country, it would be the eighth most populated in the world, just ahead of Japan, Russia and Nigeria. Almost everything posted on the Internet is backed-up, archived, indexed and served back by search engines—like Google. And all this shared information will never go away! It has a half-life  longer than a Styrofoam cup!  Are there any principles you should consider before you share?

What I'm talking about here is reputation. How important is your reputation? The Psalmist said, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches…" (Proverbs 22:1). A good name, or a good reputation, is very important!

Employers, universities, associations, and reporters all go to these networks now looking for information about you. What you write about your job, your family and friends, those spring break pictures, the party photos are all there and Google never forgets. 

Ultimately, our good name and character are the result of living according to the high standards given to us in the Bible. What you do online and the reputation you gain from that experience can have lasting effects. Be modest, be balanced, and be warned—Google never forgets.

For GN Magazine, I'm Dave Register.