"Social Media" sites affect on real life? Especially when we don't belong to them.

[Jstpssng]

"Social Media" sites affect on real life? Especially when we don't belong to them.

Just as I check my credit report occasionally, sometimes I search my own name just to see what's out there. Today I paid a buck to see what's on "MyLife"... a site which I hadn't even heard of when I got up this AM. (I confused it with another, which I also don't belong to.)

For years I've been reported with an alias; somewhere along the line some numbknot keypunched the last 3 letters of my name wrong and I am stuck with it.
The latest report shows that I'm also related to some woman a few towns away with the same last name as the alias I've been assigned; who apparently has a plethora of financial and legal problems. (Also drugs, if memory serves me.) The trouble is, I don't have a clue who she is.
I don't know if these sites are as important as they think they are, but if so there should be some way to correct bogus information, just as I can and have done on my credit reports. This is just one more reason why I don't give out personal information here,(The only site I belong to) or use my real name as a moniker.

 

[Diggin It]

Re: "Social Media" sites affect on real life? Especially when we don't belong to them

Over the past 20 years on the web, I think I've been on close to 50 different forums. I've never used the same ID twice and have never used anything close to my real name. That ONLY goes on financial sites or retail sites.

 

[George2615]

Re: "Social Media" sites affect on real life? Especially when we don't belong to them

This site is about as close as I get to social media. I wouldn't worry about some fly by night site that has misinformation about you. The only one I ever worry about is to make sure my credit report is correct. I have done a search on my own name and there are many of the same name that come up. There is one that does show a previous address and other names that may or may not be associated with me. They are all guessing and I find only 5% of the info about me is correct. I don't care about those sites because they are wrong.

 

[newbury]

Re: "Social Media" sites affect on real life? Especially when we don't belong to them

<snip>
For years I've been reported with an alias; somewhere along the line some numbknot keypunched the last 3 letters of my name wrong and I am stuck with it.
<snip>

In the day and age of digital information rules that happens.
Before retirement I used to attend a bunch of technology conferences as part of my job.
It was all related to military and computer technology. Part of the acronym for my office was "DTSS" (Digital Topographic Support System)
SOMEHOW I got on mailing lists AND GOOGLE Map as a DDS.

I got inundated with free magazines, dental samples (floss and toothbrushes) and every spring get about 6 calls from dental colleges trying to place students.
I'd call the senders, try to explain the mistake, would be told to keep the stuff. Called Google to be removed from the map. It's taken over a decade to work through the system. Miss the free swimsuit issue.

 

[RNeumann]

Re: "Social Media" sites affect on real life? Especially when we don't belong to them

So life was fine, you sought out trouble (actually paid for it!) and found it?
Did I miss something?

I’d say you are fine. The acronym FIDO comes to mind...:

 

[atsah]

Re: "Social Media" sites affect on real life? Especially when we don't belong to them

So life was fine, you sought out trouble (actually paid for it!) and found it?
Did I miss something?

I壇 say you are fine. The acronym FIDO comes to mind...:

:laughing: