You know you don’t have much of a life when even the internet has nothing daring to say about you.
There are people out there worried their information is making it to the “dark” web.
As it turns out, some of us don’t even crack the “light” web.
To be sure, a vanity Google search will bring up pages and pages of articles and columns posted to the web throughout BC by Black Press.
That goes with the territory and the whole point of those stories is that they are public.
However, last week, while doing some research on how personal information is stored and shared across online applications, I downloaded all the information Facebook has collected from my profile and usage, and did approximately the same with Google.
The results were underwhelming, to say the least. Apparently I have few interests, and never go anywhere. It’s possible I’m not even here.
This little piece of personal investigative journalism and self-awareness came about the way most enterprise stories are developed.
The Spotlight backed into it, while checking out an anonymous tip that in 2014 the communities of Tulameen and Coalmont colluded to affect the outcome of the across-the-slate acclamation of Princeton town council.
Okay, it truly did come about the way most enterprise stories are developed.
We stole the idea from another newspaper, in this case The Toronto Star.
This may be a situation of complete under-reaction, but it’s not surprising to me in the slightest that Facebook has kept all of my posts and private messages going back to when my employer insisted all its worker bees create a FB profile.
My ads history is embarrassingly short and tends to support the notion that the family does indeed shop local.
According to Mark Zuckerberg – based on what has been clicked on – I am attracted by news (duh), but also physical fitness and right-wing politics.
Clearly, clicks lie.
Don’t. Believe. Everything. Facebook. Tells. You.
Case in point, also based on my ad interests, Facebook says I’m a geek.
That’s just mean.
A look at your own Facebook download will show you all your friends – that’s hardly going to come as a surprise – but also lists all the friend requests you have sent and received, and all the friends you have deleted.
Now that was a nice walk down bad-memory lane.
Also discovered that my very first Facebook friend, made on November 23, 2009, is someone named Greg Persson. Had no idea who he was until I went to his profile.
Finally, based on my friend group, Facebook declares me to have an “Established Adult Life.”
Don’t. Believe. Everything. Facebook. Tells. You.
Google seems to be even less interested in the evocative and clandestine life of a small town newspaper publisher than Facebook.
Apparently, if your locations are “turned on,” anybody logging in with your email address can look at a map and timeline showing every place you’ve been where you’ve used your smartphone.
That’s a bit creepy, and ought to give pause to anyone who has lied to his or her boss about being home sick while they were really skiing at Manning Park.
My Google searches are positively soporific, and consist almost entirely of news-related links and the occasional inquiry related to etymology.
It was amusing to realize Google believes my residence is The Spotlight office, 282 Bridge Street. Princeton BC, but has no entry for my work address.
No comment.
My location notifications are “turned off.” If you want to find me at any given time, try 282 Bridge Street, Princeton BC.
I don’t use my mobile device to download music, or videos or applications, unless expressly – and repeatedly with increasing terseness- ordered into it by management.
(That comment will entertain my digital team colleagues to no end.)
Primarily, I like to think of my computer as a means to produce a newspaper, and my phone as a necessary evil which is just a phone. That is likely why the internet can form few conclusions about me.
Can’t believe Facebook calls me a geek.
If you want to check out what Facebook has on YOU, go to your settings. There is an option to download a copy of all your Facebook data.
As for Google you can get started with