Response to the real Reading #2

After reading the article When Google is not your friend, I found I wasnt as worried as I maybe should be. I have seen a news segment about the issue about a year ago and take a more relaxed stance on the issue.

It does worry me if the information you search on a search engine like Google can be used against you in a court of law. The example given about the man convicted of murder who also had searched Google for hits on words like neck, snap and break but the information was on his computer as well was very troublesome. However I don't believe a court would put as much weight on this evidence as this article wants you to believe.

I am not worried so much about the power a search engine holds as I am all for it. Because search engines keep this data we are given tons and tons of information about what the people who are using them are interested in. Unfortunately some of that information might be a product of individuals trying to murder someone, kill themselves, make bombs or drugs, but I believe there is power in this information.

If we know America's secret is suicide then we can bring it out in the open and let it air out. We can create talk of the issue and make help and options available.

Even more simply, these search engines are often used to see what consumers want and need, an excellent source for knowing your consumer is Google.

Maybe more privacy laws are needed, but individuals need to know that their information is not confidential at this time, and not to search online for what they wouldn't openly research if worried.

After reading The Coming Tug of War Over the Internet, I was shocked to hear that telephone companies would have such a intricate idea. Of coarse the idea sounds beneficial financially for telephone companies, however it sounds too complex to me to be an issue for another few years.

Companies will have to start charging for for things like downloads, which sparked discontent, however if a internet user is being more tailored to, it might be worth extra cost.

Some telephone companies don't want the change, I believe because they don't want the hassle. The Information Act in revisions will be beneficial to many, and you cant blame telephone companies for wanting a more free market rather than a he who has the gold makes the rule, always, kind of system where people's personal information is given away for a price.


I really enjoyed reading Journalism Students Need to Develop Their Personal Brand because I have a sense of the importance of needing to be well known online, but it really stressed an aspect that I'm not sure is a focus in my studies.

I know with many media outlets downsizing you must have an edge as a journalist. Before we even leave to become a part of the profession we will need to be on top of online communication in order to land a job. I had no real idea of the importance of owning a domain. This article emphasized the importance of many must haves I have been overlooking.

I especially enjoyed the fact that in making your online identity you must be genuine and authentic. You must be yourself, yet original, its a juggling act, but everyone has something to offer the online world. You must be yourself because as the article mentions, there is no hiding on the internet.