Fears for generation Facebook

By Roger Smithers on 18 August 2010

I couldn’t help but notice the cover story on The Independent today: ‘Google chief: My fears for Generation Facebook‘. The chief executive of Google has expressed his concerns over the amount of personal data people leave on the internet. Quite a frightening view from a man that’s made millions collecting and re-distributing other people’s information.

But he makes a valid point. Think about it. My digital footprint started in 1996 when I was introduced to the internet at university (I’m 33 now and was 21 then). My immature and inexperienced youth was (almost) behind me and aside from a few dodgy photos (the printed kind) will stay resigned to memories.

Compare that with today’s internet generation. Practically every event of every day is captured in photo, video, status or feeds. And that data is stored and, until privacy is more effectively regulated, will be accessible.

So perhaps it won’t just be the ‘birds and the bees’ we”ll be telling our children about, but possibly the consequences of their digital existence.

What do you think?

19/08/10 Tony Allen said:

There was a programme on CNBC about google the other week and it's surprising how much data on individuals is collected without them realizing it....scary!