Tag Archives: online identity
How Social Networks See Users - The Anti-Social Media

Google+, an Identity Service

How Social Networks See Users - The Anti-Social MediaThis weekend Google’s chairman Eric Schmidt said Google+ is actually an identity service.

Well color me surprised.

An identity service? What the hell does that mean? Isn’t this a social network where I can connect with my friends?

Google is really just a giant internet advertising service. Facebook is the same way. We’ve know that for years. But for Google to basically come out and say “We’re profiling you.” is creepy as fuck.

Now when I use Google+, I notice how it’s collecting information about me. Circles, which are essential to add people, delineate my relationships. Sparks, a feature which I haven’t used at all, is really just a method to capture my interests for advertising. When you go to Google+ and you aren’t logged in, you notice that isn’t called Google+, it’s the Google+ Project.

A project to identify everyone.

Well then.

Will there ever be a social network that isn’t creepy? I’m not holding my breath, even for Diaspora (Side note: what the hell ever happened to Diaspora?).

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What You Wish People Knew - The Anti-Social Media

What You Wish People Knew

What You Wish People Knew - The Anti-Social MediaOver the past few weeks I’ve seen the posts on Amber Naslund’s blog and elsewhere about What I Wish People Knew About Me. Many of the posts have been very moving and insightful, and it’s great to see so many people opening up intimately not heir blogs and elsewhere online.

But I can’t shake the premise as false.

You create your identity online. Unless you have an arch-nemesis constantly creating identities as you and spreading malicious slander and libel, you’re in control of what you share. You’re in control of who you are, online and offline.

It’s a sad, sorry state of affairs we live in where you cannot be who you are online and you have to perform another identity. I know how much it sucks. I’m gay. I suffer from depression. It sucks to hide an important part of your identity from the people you care about.

Yet I’ve been able to previously write on both of those topics. If I can write about those topics on a social media satire and humor blog, then there is no reason why anyone else can’t write about what they want people to know about them unless they are a coward.

It’s OK to want people to know certain things about you. It’s terrible to feel like you are hiding. But writing “What You Wish People Knew” is a cop out on your identity. You’re better than that.

You are in control of who you are. Don’t be a wimp. Share what you want to share. Tell people what you want them to know. Stop wishing and be who you are.

The internet will be a better place for it.

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