Take a look at your image in the Internet mirror; Google Search your name, FR screen name

The Dallas Morning News ^ | April 16, 2004 | By TOM MAURSTAD / The Dallas Morning News

[MeekOneGOP]

Take a look at your image in the Internet mirror

07:42 PM CDT on Friday, April 16, 2004

By TOM MAURSTAD / The Dallas Morning News

Have you ever googled yourself, maybe late at night, when nobody else was around? It's OK, you can admit it – everybody does it.

It's called "self-googling" – entering your name into the popular search engine to see what hits come up. And thanks to a communications professor at the University of Buffalo who researches online behavior and relationships, self-googling has become the latest mini-craze to sweep through the media and over the Internet.

It all started with an article in the university's student newspaper on April 8 in which Alexander Halavais, the aforementioned communications professor, asserted that "self-googling" wasn't merely an act of vanity or boredom but really an increasingly important act of image maintenance in our Internet age.

In the days since, follow-up articles and accounts have been pinging around the electronic universe. See for yourself: Google the phrase "self-googling."

"It's been a strange kind of fun to be at the center of this," says Mr. Halavais. "One, because this behavior is nothing new; it's known on the Web as 'ego surfing.' And, two, because this is not really the focus of my research."

Whatever you want to call it, checking out who you are and what's being said about you on the Internet is rapidly becoming a common-sense practice in a wired world. Think of it as the digital equivalent of looking at your reflection as you pass by a mirror, checking to make sure your hair is unmussed and there's nothing stuck between your teeth.

"It's truer for some than others, but more and more you need to be aware of and manage your online image and reputation. I talk to a lot of students who are applying for jobs, and they take for granted that a Web search is part of the process."

So, go ahead. Google yourself. Who knows what you'll find out?

Of course, Alexander Halavais knows exactly what he's going to find next time he gets the urge to self-google.

"That's it, I'm branded. From now on, I'm the self-google guy."

E-mail tmaurstad@dallasnews.com

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/041704dnartselfgoogle.310f4.html

[hellinahandcart]

Well, the image search turned up a picture of me at Al Gore's booksigning in 2002

followed by pictures of Lawrence of Arabia, Wrong Way Feldman, Barbie, Nick Nolte, kitten chow, the electric chair, Blue Lancer's rotting fish gif, and this very strange picture of shoes filled with butter that dighton pinged me to:

I really don't know what to make of myself.

[hellinahandcart]

Gosh, the other way sounds almost dirty or something.

Yeah, or something. :D

[redheadtoo]

I was named after a certain famous musician.

I have the same last name as a certain movie star. My Google image search turned up a number of photos of him. No pictures of me, however, were listed on Google even though I know my picture has been posted on at least two web sites.

[CGTRWK]

The one and only image to come up. I like it!

[lowbridge]

Doing a pic search on my screen name alone gives me a bunch of bridges and also double decker buses in the UK.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Hey, at least my nickname isn't 'Little Miss Butter Pumps' like someone I know. :)

[hellinahandcart]

You didn't get a Looneytunes pic? "Ducka you head-- low la bridgeda!"?

[redheadtoo]

I was named after a certain famous musician.

I have the same last name as a certain movie star. My Google image search turned up a number of photos of him. No pictures of me, however, were listed on Google even though I know my picture has been posted on at least two web sites.

[PatrickHenry]

I found someone with my screen-name who posts at a website called LibertyForum. He ain't me. Nor is the PatrickHenry who posts at a forum called volconvo. Nor at US PoliticsOnLine. Nor at any other website. I'm the one and only. Accept no substitutes!

[hellinahandcart]

You kidding? Those pumps were just made for Hillary's lovely legs...the butter would ease those cankles right into place.

[lowbridge]

[Miss Marple]

[cmsgop]

Lookie what I Got!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!

[lowbridge]

I'm the one and only. Accept no substitutes!

You realize of course that the British has a price on your head. ;-)

[PatrickHenry]

You realize of course that the British has a price on your head.

Yeah, well ... maybe they'll get confused and hang one of those bogus PatrickHenry guys.

[Dog Gone]

Nice hat, but you really need to put some fertilizer on your front lawn.

[lowbridge]

Note to self: Must post more pics of beautiful women.

[Lady Jag]

I'm finding out a lot about myself!

I have control...

[Miss Marple]

That is not MY front lawn. I live in a cottage in the village of St. Mary Meade. The front lawn in the photograph belongs to the crime scene.

Miss Marple has a lovely lawn, and also grows roses and perennials. Never insult Miss Marple's gardening! :-)