Why You Should Never Google Your Name
We’ve all been there. You’re bored, you’re curious, and for some reason, you decide to google your name. Maybe you want to see what comes up, maybe you’re just curious to see if anyone has written anything about you online.
It’s natural to wonder what kind of information is out there about us. In the age of the Internet and the decline of privacy (both off and online), it’s more important than ever to be aware of what information is available about us.
Sometimes, it’s also a matter of safety. Perhaps you’re worried about identity theft, or you’re concerned that someone might be able to find out too much information about you.
Whatever the reason, googling your name can be tempting. But before you do, you might want to hold off until you know some of the pitfalls.
6 reasons why you shouldn’t google your name
1. You might not like what you find
The first and most obvious reason why you shouldn’t google your name is that you might not like what you find. Maybe someone has written something negative about you, or maybe there’s an embarrassing photo that pops up.
The Internet can be a cruel place where everyone has an opinion and isn’t afraid to share it. If you’re not prepared to deal with the possibility of seeing something negative about yourself, then you might want to avoid googling your name.
2. It can get addictive
Googling your name can become addictive. Once you start, it’s hard to stop. You might find yourself googling your name multiple times a day, or even setting up Google Alerts so that you’re notified every time your name is mentioned online.
This can be dangerous territory if you’re not careful. It’s so easy to get caught up in what other people are saying about you. Before you know it, it will be the only thing you think about!
3. It can lead to paranoia and anxiety
If you’re not careful, googling your name can lead to paranoia. Once you’ve found one thing, you might start to believe that everyone is talking about you, or that everyone knows more about you than you’d like them to.
This can be especially true if you’re already feeling insecure or anxious about your online presence. It’s important to remember that not everything you read on the Internet is true and that people are more likely to write negative things than positive ones.
4. It’s a huge time-waster
Another downside to googling your name is that it’s a huge time-waster. If you’re constantly checking to see what’s being said about you online, you’re not using your time wisely.
There are so many better things you could be doing with your time than worrying about what other people are saying about you, or checking which companies have posted information about you online.
If you find yourself spending hours googling your name, it might be time to take a step back and reassess your priorities.
5. It can be dangerous
Another thing people often forget is that googling your name can be dangerous.
There are millions upon millions of dodgy websites out there filled with malware, and it would be all too easy, in your incessant search for information about yourself, to accidentally click on one of them.
Before you know it, you could be infecting your computer with a virus or exposing yourself to identity theft.
6. You might not be able to do anything about the information you find
Consider this: if you don’t like what you find when you google your name, there’s a very real possibility that you won’t be able to do anything about it.
Some sites make it nigh on impossible to have content removed, and even if you do manage to get something taken down, there’s no guarantee that it won’t just pop up somewhere else.
The bottom line is that once something is on the Internet, it’s there forever. Your lack of control over the situation can be very frustrating, and it’s something you need to be prepared for before you start googling your name.
Conclusion
We’ve given you plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t google your name, but it should be noted that, in some cases, it can be beneficial. If you’re job-hunting, for example, it’s a good idea to do a quick search of your name to see what potential employers might find if they were to do the same.
Your privacy concerns are valid, but you shouldn’t let them consume you. A simple search once a year should suffice. And, if you still have concerns, be mindful of how much you post about yourself online in the future. The less information you put out there, the less there is for people to find.