Education Week has a nice article that looks at the ethical dilemmas facing students in the digital age. The article profiles Howard Gardner and a team of researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education who are looking at how social media is creating new challenges for teenagers. Quoting from the page:

It’s a familiar scenario: A teenager snaps a picture of underage classmates drinking alcohol at a party. The photos go up on a social-networking Web site and land on the desk of an athletic coach or a school administrator. The students pictured are suspended from school or booted off their teams.

Researchers here at the Harvard Graduate School of Education say stories like that one illustrate one of the ways new digital media are raising distinct ethical challenges and temptations for young people today.

“Even though many young people may not be ready to participate in the wider communities that digital media open up to them, there is no controlling information about yourself or others that gets posted,” said Howard Gardner, the project’s co-director.

Alert readers will see a familiar pattern here. This scenario sounds like the Teacher who was fired for her MySpace photo or the bloggers who were fired for posting about their jobs online. The fact that Harvard minds are researching this new phenomenon means that it is a new ethical reality for students in the internet era. ReputationDefender is the leader for protecting your online reputation.

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In a recent article Computerworld magazine waded into the world of online reputation management to see what all the hubbub is about. ReputationDefender’s CEO Michael Fertik is sourced extensively throughout the article, and provides expert commentary on Online Reputation Management. Computerworld’s approach is good for their readers; it introduces ORM to a broader audience and looks at the realities of dealing with our digital dirt in a wired society. The magazine set up a simple test of three items to be removed and then graded their progress. From the article, the three items they threw into the Internet and then tried to haul back out were:

• A recent college graduate with a distinctive last name would like to get rid of an entry on someone else’s long-abandoned online journal. 

• A freelance writer is mistakenly identified as a movie critic on Rotten Tomatoes, a popular site that aggregates movie reviews from print, TV and the Web. 

• In an interview seven years ago, an IT professional gave a quote to Computerworld that included a salty phrase.

None of these items is particularly salacious, save potentially the first, and they are not uncommon problems for the average web user to encounter. What’s more interesting is the process that Computerworld has to go through for each individual item and the mixed bag of results they end up with.

The article is a good read for those new to Online Reputation Management, and for those curious about the steps necessary to even begin trying to restore, maintain or establish an online identity.  ReputationDefender has a variety of services and products to help you maintain your good reputation online.

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Wanted: Good men and women to serve as a part of a historic Presidential administrative team. Must be a team player and able to handle pressure. Familiarity with deadlines essential, complex screening process applies. Equal Opportunity Employer.

On the heels of the Obama campaign being swept into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue there have been a lot of job slots opening up. Some are newly created, others are being vacated as the Bush administration heads out and Obama moves in. In both cases bodies are needed to fill the seats. But not just any bodies. Barack Obama is very aware of the Internet and how it can help and hinder a cause. Given this, it should come as no surprise to anyone that he is being VERY thorough about who gets a spot on the “O” team.

The process begins with a seven-page questionnaire that has been sent by the office of the President-elect to those seeking cabinet and other high-ranking posts. The New York Times has commented that this process may be the most extensive (“some say invasive”) application ever.

And just what does those questions cover? 63 requests for personal and professional records, for starters, covering the applicants’ spouses and grown children as well. Good luck for speeders (sort of): traffic tickets with fines of less than $50 do not need not be reported, but anyone with a family member in the NRA take note, the application asks whether the applicant or anyone in their family owns a firearm.

While all of this is interesting from a political standpoint, what really caught our eye was the provision that all applicants must include any e-mail that might embarrass the president-elect, along with any blog posts and links to their Facebook pages. As we have noted before on this blog, Obama is the Internet President, and he is covering his digital bases. The application goes on further to ask for applicants to “list all aliases or ‘handles’ you have used to communicate on the Internet.”

Of course the competition for a job in the White House has always been high, even if you weren’t gunning for Commander-In-Chief. The vetting process has been modified and added on to with each incoming administration, but Mr. Obama has taken his background hunts to a new level, especially with regards to applicants’ family members. The Obama camp stands behind their process, though, stating “President-elect Obama made a commitment to change the way Washington does business, and the vetting process exemplifies that.”

With the economy large in many Americans’ minds, the Obama campaign has sought to minimize any potential red flags in their hiring by avoiding hot topics like Freddie Mac and Fannie May. Question 18 of the Obama application asks the applicant whether “you, your spouse or any member of your immediate family” has been affiliated with either of the two failed mortgage institutions, as well as American International Group, Washington Mutual or any other institution getting a piece of the government bailout.

Remembering the trouble that Bill Clinton got into back in the early 90s, immigration status is questioned in the “Domestic Help” section that covers housekeepers, nannies, chauffeurs and yard-workers. Beyond that, applicants are requested to supply not only a résumé, but every résumé and biographical statement they’ve used in the last decade.

Oh yeah, and while you’re at it, the application requires the names of anyone an applicant has lived with, a chronological list of activities for which they were paid, documentation of real estate and loans over $10,000, and net worth statements submitted for loans. Furthermore, applicants must report all businesses that they and/or their spouses have been affiliated with and all gifts over $50 that they and their spouses have received from anyone other than close friends or relatives.

The catch all, though is at the end: “Please provide any other information, including information about other members of your family, that could suggest a conflict of interest or be a possible source of embarrassment to you, your family, or the president-elect.”

The message is clear. While Barack Obama understood the power of the internet to raise money and spread his message of change, he is also aware of how the internet can adversely affect people in the digital age.

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Two former officers of the police force in Durham, North Carolina are being investigated for alleged derogatory, and potentially racist, Web postings. While the details are not clear yet, the Chief of Police in Durham has stated that a “racial slur” is not the subject of the investigation, but this has done little to quell the outcry from civil rights groups.

The postings were allegedly on the officers’ MySpace or Facebook pages, according to the NAACP, which is calling on the local police to release copies. “We want to know if there will be transparency about those comments to the community and what disciplinary action if any will be taken against these officers,” Durham’s NAACP president Fred Foster Jr. told a local newspaper. “We believe that if these comments are against people of color, then it will be hard for those officers to serve and protect without prejudice and that they should not be allowed to wear the uniform representing public trust.”

By now stories of an Internet posting, meant to be private or not, coming back to haunt the poster are becoming quite commonplace. Seems that some people are just now learning of the reach of the Internet. Of course, any story like this, dealing with a betrayal of trust, abuse of power or display of bias receives even more attention when it is allegedly committed by a law enforcement officer (or any person in a real position of power, for that matter). Whether these charges prove to be true or not remains to be seen, but in the mean time remember that no one is immune from the Internet, and what you do there can (and most likely will) come back to you some day.

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According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, 22% of employers already use social networking sites to evaluate potential candidates with an additional 9% planning to do so in the near future. Despite this fact, however, the percentage of employees who have modified their social networking profiles for potential employers is only 16%.This notable disparity shows that people’s awareness of their online identity is still lacking.

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In analyzing this survey last week, ReputationDefender Blog offered its readers some advice on how to manage their reputations online and make a positive online impression. To continue along that same train of thought, here are a few more measures individuals can take to manage their online reputations.

From the CareerBuilder Article:

Do update your profile regularly

“Keep your profile updated, even when you’re not looking for a job,” recommends Patrice-Anne Rutledge, author of “The Truth About Profiting from Social Networking.” “Recruiters love to find top-notch passive job candidates and having a current profile can help you land your dream job when you least expect it.”

Don’t badmouth your current or previous employer

You know that griping about your current boss is a grave error during an interview, and it’s just as detrimental on your profile. Give hiring managers the idea that eventually you’ll be tarnishing their image if you part ways with the company and you’ll be crossed of their lists of candidates.

Also, if you’re currently employed, don’t forget any confidentiality and conduct agreements you’ve signed, Vergara reminds. You don’t want to violate your contract and end up jobless while you hunt for a new position.

Do join groups…selectively

One of the fun elements of networking sites is that you can connect with other people who share your same interests and have your quirky sense of humor. Thus you end up with virtual groups like “I Drink More Beer than Water.”

The silly group might seem harmless enough to you, but for a hiring manager trying to find a mature candidate for an open position, it doesn’t leave a great impression.

“No one is going to hire the consultant doing the keg stand or the lawyer that belongs to the anarchist forum,” says Patricia Sanchez-Abril, an expert on privacy and networking sites and professor of business law at the University of Miami. Instead opt for groups that show your professional aspirations or social involvement, such as an organization for advertising professionals or the charity you volunteer at.

Don’t mention your job search if you’re still employed

If your boss knows you’re on the lookout for a new job, then by all means let it be known. However, if you’re attempting to keep your search below the radar, Vergara recommends restraint. Even if your boss isn’t your online friend, somebody can get the information back to him or her.

Do go on the offensive

If you want to use your networking profile as a tool, review the pictures you’ve uploaded, the personal information you’ve disclosed and any personal blogs or sites you’ve linked to. Don’t wait until you’re interviewing to go back and clean up your profile because the hiring manager probably already had a look.

“Get rid of your digital dirt,” says Rutledge. “A large percentage of recruiters ‘Google’ potential candidates to see what they can find out about them — both the good and the bad. Be sure that you don’t have any information on social networks or other sites that could make a recruiter decide to pass on you as a job candidate.”

Don’t forget others can see your friends

Unless you’ve opted to keep your friends list private, your friends can see the contacts you’ve made. So in addition to keeping your friends’ risque pictures and comments off of your profile, be cautious about whom you friend and when.

“Connecting to five people at Company XYZ after a day of vacation is a sure sign you are interviewing,” Vergara cautions.

Ultimately you need to remember that social networking profiles can mean potential bosses are evaluating you before you even apply for the job. You’d make sure to wear your best clothes to an interview, so polish your profile with the same care.

ReputationDefender encourages everyone to stay informed about best social networking practices and take control of their online identity.

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Regular readers of the ReputationDefender Blog will be familiar with the teacher who was fired for her MySpace photos. Now ReputationDefender has learned of another cautionary tale for professionals in the digital age. A Cheerleader for the New England Patriots was sacked from the cheer squad following inappropriate photos on her Facebook account. Quoting from the MyCrimeSpace write up:

It seems that the 18-year-old Davis attended a college Halloween party. When one of the attendees passed out he received the age old tradition of being drawn on with Sharpies. Some of those drawings included swastikas and crude depictions of male genitalia. Davis made the no so smart move of posing with the victim with a Sharpie in her hand and posted the pictures on her Facebook. The Patriots organization didn’t particularly care for her behavior and released her.

Ensuring that your digital self is an accurate reflection of your real world self is a primary goal of Online Reputation Management. ReputationDefender offers Life Assurance for the Web ^TM by providing peace of mind to its customers. Proactively taking control of your personal brand online and controling your internet reputation are necessary steps in a connected, digital world.

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ReputationDefender Blog recently wrote about 13 Virgin Atlantic Employees who were fired for posting comments online. Now it looks like British Airways is looking at comments made online by several of its personnel. Special thanks to the Jaunted Blog for their great write ups of both stories.

Never one to let Virgin Atlantic have all the fun, now British Airways is investigating employees after they posted criticisms of passengers on a now-depopulated Facebook group called “London Gatwick Ground Staff.”

The Telegraph reports that a big complaint was passengers who put boarding passes in their mouths before handing them over to gate personnel–definitely something worth griping about. Customers were also called “smelly and annoying.” (Fliers from the US got a special shout-out for their “stupid American accents.”)

BA promises it “will be talking to the individuals concerned,” but the airline hasn’t gone so far as to say it will fire staff who made the comments. Still, as an airline that created its own social media site and maintains a Twitter account, you’d think they’d already have a policy in place regarding employee behavior online. We’re thinking something like, “Do whatever you want when you’re off the clock–as long as it isn’t completely embarrassing.”

Even though these employees haven’t been terminated, the fact that their online comments are being investigated by their employer is still cause for concern. Regular readers of the ReputationDefender Blog will realize that the content that people post online can have real world consequences (see, for example, the Facebook Bandit, who was sentenced to two years in jail because of his Social Networking Profiles).

Having an online presence that is an accurate reflection of yourself is vital in the information age. With employers, peers and business contacts all forming opinions based on what they find online, effectively managing one’s internet identity is a must. Modern day professionals and students must be proactive and control their personal brand online. The benefits of a strong online presence are immense for individuals as well as businesses. An accurate, relevant internet reputation is akin to Life Assurance for the Internet^TM.

ReputationDefender is the leader in the Online Reputation Management field, and encourages everyone to take control of their online reputation.

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Jaunted.com has news today that 13 Virgin Atlantic employees were let go after they disparaged their employer and passengers on Facebook. Quoting from the page:

Fancy a spot of freedom of speech with your tea and crumpets? Jolly good, just watch it when you talk about your employer. A group of 13 cabin crew staff got sacked (I love that word) by Virgin Atlantic after company officials discovered that they had posted nasty things about customers to a semi-private discussion group on Facebook. The fancy-pants airline founded by Sir Richard Branson began an investigation on October 23 after passengers and other staff members came across the postings, which hilariously referred to certain customers as “chavs” and claim that some of the company’s 747s were infested with cockroaches.

It’s a shame to get kicked to the curb just for bitching about your job to your co-workers, since everybody who has ever had a job has done exactly that, but this crew should have known better. Facebook might lull people into a false sense of privacy, since groups are only open to members, but those sophisticated enough to work for an airline should know by now that anything you put into pixels could easily make it into the public domain.

The last point is particularly prescient. Readers of the ReputationDefender Blog are by now familiar with the case of the teacher who was fired over MySpace photos. There are also examples of people being prosecuted in court and having their MySpace profiles used as character evidence against them. In each case, and with the Virgin Atlantic case above, people are experiencing real world consequences that originate with their online activities.

Professionals, Students, Parents, Doctors, Lawyers and job seekers should be aware that others are forming opinions and making important decisions based on what they find online. Monitoring and managing one’s Online Reputation is a must in the digital age. Online Reputation Management is an exciting industry designed to help people from all walks of life present an accurate and current representation of themselves online. The ReputationDefender product suite monitors and protects individuals online and functions as Life Insurance for the Web ^TM. ReputationDefender encourages everyone to take control of their online identity and be proactive in crafting their personal internet brand.

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ReputationDefender Blog found this timely article in the Washington Post that reveals how social networking sites are making voting a shared, online activity during this election.

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Because of online video, because of Twitter, because of Facebook updates and MySpace blogs and blogs in general, voting today becomes a collective virtual experience.

On Facebook’s Election 2008 page, users are instructed to click an “I Voted” button to let their Facebook friends know that they made it to the polls.

[SNIP]

Adam Segal, who lives in Maryland, told The Trail via Facebook chat: “I wonder what impact it has on people wavering on whether to vote. For people that have large extended networks of friends it could be even more powerful than the traditional “I Voted” sticker.”

It is clear that the internet has changed the way people communicate, and it looks like social networking sites are also motivating users to get out the vote. This is another example of how new technology is impacting people’s lives in the real world.

ReputationDefender encourages everyone to go vote today!

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Media outlets are reporting that the recent suicide of South Korean actress Choi Jin-sil may be linked to internet rumors attacking and slandering the thespian. These rumors, called “cyber-terrorism” by South Korean authorities, alleged that Ahn Jae-hwan, another actor, had taken money from Choi to cover his financial troubles. Ahn Jae-hwan later committed suicide himself, and the internet blamed Choi’s loans as a contributing factor in his death. The Korean Times has more on this case:

South Korea’s iconic actress Choi Jin-sil was found dead at her home in what appears to be a suicide amid [internet] rumors that linked her to the recent death of another actor, Yonhap News reported quoting police Thursday. 

[SNIP]

Rumors have since circulated on the Web that Choi had lent a large sum of money to [actor, Ahn Jae-hwan], who was reportedly in deepening debt due to a failing business. Ahn’s financial troubles were seen as the chief factor leading up to his suicide.

Choi sought a police probe into the source of the rumors, calling them groundless. Police arrested a securities company employee this week for spreading the rumors that Choi lent 2.5 billion won ($2 million) to Ahn.

The Los Angeles Times has more. Quoting from the page:

The post about one of South Korea’s most beloved actresses surfaced in an online club for stock investors last month, days after an actor friend of hers committed suicide. The post went on to claim that the dead actor had owed Choi money.

The rumor was copied and spread widely over the next days, with online posters blaming Choi’s money lending for the actor’s death. Choi, a national sweetheart long admired for overcoming adversity, resented and strongly denied the rumor. She said she was “scared that the world distorts friendship.”

Less than two weeks later, Choi was found hanged in the bathroom of her house in Seoul, prompting some in the South Korean news media to point the finger at Internet gossipmongers, who were accused of driving the mother of two to take her life.

The piece weighs internet safety and free speech concerns when looking at how courts are to legislate the future of responsible, free speech on the internet.

Choi’s suicide came at a time when government officials are pushing to introduce new clauses in communication laws to enforce harsher punishment for cyber-insults. The country is also preparing to extend an existing law that requires Web service providers to confirm social security numbers and the real names of users.

[SNIP]

The idea of introducing a cyber-insult law is finding traction in the wake of Choi’s death, especially among the ruling party legislators  . . . [but] some worry that new laws could have a chilling effect on free speech.

ReputationDefender Blog has covered the link between anonymous hate speech and suicide before. Internet anonymity is responsible for driving a large part of internet culture, as well as the real world consequences associated with online actions. Interested readers are invited to view the ReputationDefender Blog posts on Meghan Meier and the Chicago Ad Executive for more on this emerging trend. It is clear that as the courts move to establish internet case law, they will have to pay attention to cases like these. ReputationDefender is a strong proponant of free and responsible speech.

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ReputationDefender Blog reader Simon wrote in after reading this ReputationDefender Blog Post about Barack Obama purchasing ads in video games. Simon points us to a PBS piece by Chris O’Brien that looks at how the newspaper industry can transition into the digital space by studying Obama’s online and interactive communication strategy.

Of course, a lot has already been written about how Obama’s campaign has utilized social networking and micro-financing to turn his campaign into a broad-based movement. The record $150 million he raised in September is testament to that strategy. He’s mastered the viral nature of the Internet to tap into a swell of grassroots support that will likely be hard to stop next month.

But what struck me, in the case of the videogame ads, was how his campaign had employed a strategy that reached far beyond the Internet to communicate. No platform is too big, or too small. If they think there is a significant community to be reached, they’ve gone after them wherever they are.

And they’re not just re-purposing messages. Instead, they’re creating messages tailored to each specific platform. Beyond the videogames, here are just three more that come to mind:

• Twitter: This is the best known, perhaps. Obama’s Twitter account now has 102,247 followers, one of the largest on Twitter. Obama’s campaign primarily uses the account to put out links to videos, short campaign announcements, and brief messages.

• iPhone application: This nifty little application can be downloaded from the iTunes store to your iPhone where it searches your contact list for phone numbers of people in battleground states. When it finds relevant numbers, it alerts you and suggests you call that person. It also pulls in news and video updates.

• Text messages: The plan to announce the selection of his running mate via text messages was a dud. But in the process, he got thousands to volunteer their mobile phone number which has allowed the campaign to continue blasting out updates wherever someone is.

The article is exceedingly well written and well worth reading. Special thanks to alert reader Simon, too, for participating in the meaningful conversations we try to engender on ReputationDefender Blog. As media continues to diversify, managing personal and corporate reputations becomes more important and more complex. ReputationDefender remains the market leader for personal brand management and Online Identity Management.

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ReputationDefender Blog recently found this story of an employee allegedly taking a sick day and then getting caught playing hookie on Facebook. This is not the first time that Facebook updates have hindered professional development, as bosses, teachers and hiring managers are increasingly connected to the social networking scene.

An Oz call centre employee has become an overnight net celeb down under after an email exchange between him and his firm’s workforce manager regarding a “sickie” escaped into the wild yesterday.

The correspondence, currently doing the rounds of Aussie inboxes, concerns a day’s leave of absence claimed by Kyle Doyle on 21 August.

From: Niresh Regmi
Sent: Wednesday, 27 August 2008 9:35 a.m.
To: Kyle Doyle
Subject: Absence on Thursday 21st 2008

Hi Kyle,
Please provide a medical certificate stating a valid reason for your sick leave on Thursday 21st 2008.
Thank You

NIRESH REGMI
Real Time Manager, Workforce Operations

---

From: Kyle Doyle
Sent: Wednesday, 27 August 2008 9:38 a.m.
To: Niresh Regmi
Subject: RE: Absence on Thursday 21st 2008

Niresh,
1 day leave absences do not require a medical certificate as stated in my contract, provided I have stated that I am on leave for medical reasons.
Thanks
Regards,

Kyle Doyle
Resolutions Expert - Technical

---

From: Niresh Regmi
Sent: Wednesday, 27 August 2008 9:39 a.m.
To: Kyle Doyle
Subject: RE: Absence on Thursday 21st 2008

Hi Kyle,
Usually that is the case, as per your contract. However please note that leave during these occasions is only granted for genuine medical reasons. You line manager has determined that your leave was not due to medical reasons and as such we cannot grant leave on this occasion.

NIRESH REGMI

---

From: Kyle Doyle
Sent: Wednesday, 27 August 2008 9:43 a.m.
To: Niresh Regmi
Subject: RE: Absence on Thursday 21st 2008

Hi Niresh,
My leave was due to medical reasons, so you cannot deny leave based on a line manager’s discretion, with no proof, please process leave as requested.
Thanks
Regards,

Kyle Doyle

---

From: Niresh Regmi
Sent: Wednesday, 27 August 2008 9:50 a.m.
To: Kyle Doyle
Subject: RE: Absence on Thursday 21st 2008

Hi Kyle,
I believe the proof that you are after is below

Brilliant. To his credit, the busted Doyle concludes:

From: Kyle Doyle
Sent: Wednesday, 27 August 2008 9:55 a.m.
To: Niresh Regmi
Subject: RE: Absence on Thursday 21st 2008

HAHAHA LMAO epic fail
No worries man
Regards,

Kyle Doyle

ReputationDefender first noticed this story on Digg, where it was noted in the comments that the tale of social networking shenanigans was likely a fake.

After appearing in newspapers, websites and televisions around the world, the matter appeared to be approaching its 15-minute use-by date - until AAPT issued a statement claiming it was bogus.

“Following an investigation into AAPT’s email records, we can confirm the email exchange between two of our employees … never occurred,” the telco said in a statement.

“This issue will continue to be dealt with internally, as a matter of standard company process.”

A company spokeswoman would not elaborate on any theories about how the alleged email exchange became public or could have been created.

The latest developments, however, will create speculation that the exchange was cooked up by trouble-seeking colleagues of Mr Doyle and his boss.

Meanwhile, Mr Doyle, who lists his political views as “Liberal Party of Australia”, has been uncontactable and AAPT staff were ordered not to discuss their most famous colleague.

However his incriminating Facebook page now lists his status as “trying to hide :/.” It has also been innundated with messages of support - including 175 personal messages.

Even if these messages are forgeries, the point still applies that one’s actions on the internet can affect one’s real world reputation and underscores the point that proactively controling online identity is necessary in the wired world.

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ReputationDefender Blog, recently ran into this Breitbart article on Digg that points to a recent military report that says Twitter could be used by terrorists.

A draft US Army intelligence report has identified the popular micro-blogging service Twitter, Global Positioning System maps and voice-changing software as potential terrorist tools. 

[SNIP]

“Extremist and terrorist use of Twitter could evolve over time to reflect tactics that are already evolving in use by hacktivists and activists for surveillance,” it said. “This could theoretically be combined with targeting.”

The report outlined scenarios in which militants could make use of Twitter, combined with such programs as Google Maps or cell phone pictures or video, to carry out an ambush or detonate explosives.

“Terrorists could theoretically use Twitter social networking in the US as an operation tool,” it said. “However, it is unclear whether that same theoretical tool would be available to terrorists in other countries and to what extent.”

Besides Twitter, the report examined the potential use by militants of Global Positioning Systems and other technologies.

Twitter is certainly changing the way people connect online, and, like all means of communication, can be used for good or for ill. ReputationDefender Blog has covered tweets before and you can check out ReputationDefender on Twitter for more web 2.0 connectivity.

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We’ve spent time writing on the ReputationDefender Blog about the perils of inappropriate social networking with regard to college applications, but we caught a new story which puts a whole different twist on the dangers of poorly managed online profiles.

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With record numbers of applications pouring into the nation’s top universities this fall, college admissions officers have begun to notice a strange trend. As competition for admission into selective universities becomes tighter and applicants are seeking additional ways to distinguish themselves, some students (or their parents) have begun sending anonymous messages to admissions officers that sabotage other applicants.

Pointing admissions officers to unflattering Facebook or MySpace profiles of competing students, sneaky applicants are hoping to disqualify others to increase their own chances of admission. What’s even worse,  because many of the anonymous saboteurs are fellow classmates of the victim, privacy settings are likely to be ineffective in preventing access to a student’s dirty laundry. As if that weren’t bad enough, some of these schemers have even resorted to spreading outright lies about their peers to help dissuade colleges.

While some colleges don’t take these anonymous messages seriously, there are others who pursue every bit of information when they’re making a decision. If all that stands between you and another applicant is an embarrassing picture or a distortion of your character, that could be all that it takes to move your name to the rejected pile.

As disturbing as it is that this type of behavior would take place, it is just one more example of the importance of maintaining a strong online reputation. As the leader in the Online Reputation Management Industry, ReputationDefender is proud to offer a variety of services to help keep you looking good on the web.

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ReputationDefender Blog recently found this interesting article in the New York Times Magazine that chronicles the difficulty one man encounters when trying to meet up with his 700 Facebook friends at a Toronto bar.

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One day this past summer, I logged on to Facebook and realized that I was very close to having 700 online “friends.” Not bad, I thought to myself, absurdly proud of how many cyberpals, connections, acquaintances and even strangers I’d managed to sign up.

[SNIP]

So I decided to have a Facebook party. I used Facebook to create an “event” and invite my digital chums. Some of them, of course, didn’t live in Toronto, but I figured, it’s summer and people travel. You never know who might be in town. If they lived in Buffalo or Vancouver, they could just click “not attending,” and that would be that. Facebook gives people the option of R.S.V.P.’ing in three categories — “attending,” “maybe attending” and “not attending.”

After a week the responses stopped coming in and were ready to be tabulated. Fifteen people said they were attending, and 60 said maybe. A few hundred said not, and the rest just ignored the invitation altogether. I figured that about 20 people would show up. That sounded pretty good to me. Twenty potential new friends.

On the evening in question I took a shower. I shaved. I splashed on my tingly man perfume. I put on new pants and a favorite shirt. Brimming with optimism, I headed over to the neighborhood watering hole and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Eventually, one person showed up.

The article is worth a read, not only because it is well written, but also because it shows the shift between virtual friendships and real world relationships. ReputationDefender has shown how social networking is changing the way people connect online. As this piece shows, the Facebook phenomenon may be changing the way we connect in the real world, as well.

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