New Google policy

amandasw

someone posted this link on facebook and it tells you how to delete and pause your browsing history - basically getting rid of all the info Google wants to share.  I hadn't thought of it before, but I just did it and it seemed to 'work'.  Someone can correct me if this was all a joke, but it did something and now my browsing history isn't in my account anymore!

KimberlyS530

Not a joke at all - Google's policy change goes into effect tomorrow.

From Google's perspective - they say they're trying to make it more "seamless" for you by showing you better search results, but IMO what they're really trying to do is capture more information on you because they are concerned that social search (i.e. Facebook) will overtake standard search and this is their approach to addressing that.  I just switched my search engine over to Bing since I chronically forget to sign out of GMail.

dreamwinds

KimberlyS530:

Not a joke at all - Google's policy change goes into effect tomorrow.

From Google's perspective - they say they're trying to make it more "seamless" for you by showing you better search results, but IMO what they're really trying to do is capture more information on you because they are concerned that social search (i.e. Facebook) will overtake standard search and this is their approach to addressing that.  I just switched my search engine over to Bing since I chronically forget to sign out of GMail.

I like how you think. I have no problem with companies data mining really because I understand we opt to use their services and they have to make money somehow. But I do have a problem with consumers not being smart about how they spread out their information. Like my sister, she sees no problem with having an android phone, g+, gmail, blogspot, picasa, gchat, google, youtube, and chrome as her primary online interfaces. She "trusts" google and doesn't care if they pretty much know and can map out her entire life.

That kind of willful (cause I've already talked to her about the dangers of doing that) ignorance makes me cry.

KimberlyS530

dreamwinds:

I like how you think. I have no problem with companies data mining really because I understand we opt to use their services and they have to make money somehow. But I do have a problem with consumers not being smart about how they spread out their information. Like my sister, she sees no problem with having an android phone, g+, gmail, blogspot, picasa, gchat, google, youtube, and chrome as her primary online interfaces. She "trusts" google and doesn't care if they pretty much know and can map out her entire life.

That kind of willful (cause I've already talked to her about the dangers of doing that) ignorance makes me cry.

I married a techie who works in the social space, so I've become very cognizant of my online presence over the past few years.  Also, your sister should Google that article on the Google employee up in Seattle who got canned a few years ago for going through some girl's personal e-mail and stuff - creeeeepster. 

I am, surprisingly enough, most liberal with my personal information on Facebook.  However, I know so many people who work there and I know the guys who started it and I know the privacy settings so well that I'm not at all concerned about my privacy on that site (which I know sounds crazy given all the articles that the press write about how bad Facebook is about privacy).  Also, I am a terror when it comes to de-friending people and generally don't accept friend requests from people I don't know well, so I feel more comfortable sharing more since I keep my friend list on lock-down.  On other sites I'm much more conscientious!    

amandasw

KimberlyS530:

Not a joke at all - Google's policy change goes into effect tomorrow.

I wasn't asking if the Google thing was a joke, I was just checking that the link I posted was a real thing and would work

KimberlyS530

amandasw:

KimberlyS530:

Not a joke at all - Google's policy change goes into effect tomorrow.

I wasn't asking if the Google thing was a joke, I was just checking that the link I posted was a real thing and would work

  Yes, I meant to reply that the site wasn't a joke, and then mention the policy goes into effect tomorrow.  Sorry that I am blond (fake but I claim it as an excuse sometimes) and everything makes perfect sense in my head even when I type gibberish.  The link you posted was the correct way to take care of that issue - or just make sure you're signed out whenever you use search.

avila01

Thanks for posting that link! 

amandasw

KimberlyS530:

amandasw:

KimberlyS530:

Not a joke at all - Google's policy change goes into effect tomorrow.

I wasn't asking if the Google thing was a joke, I was just checking that the link I posted was a real thing and would work

  Yes, I meant to reply that the site wasn't a joke, and then mention the policy goes into effect tomorrow.  Sorry that I am blond (fake but I claim it as an excuse sometimes) and everything makes perfect sense in my head even when I type gibberish.  The link you posted was the correct way to take care of that issue - or just make sure you're signed out whenever you use search.

yay!  now I have to give H a hard time for not telling me about it!  (I just sent him the link and he was like "oh yeah, I already did that"  and you didn't tell me!!)