Forget About Facebook, Protect Your Google Plus Privacy
If you have GMail, you have a Google Plus account and if you haven't taken the time to check it out, it's probably easily searchable on the Internet.
Have we got your attention yet? Good. This one's important.
Most GMail users set up Google Plus when it debuted and then promptly forgot about it. But those profiles haven't disappeared.
Since the social network is owned and controlled by the search giant, your Google Plus profile and activity could be part of any name searches potential clients or employers do. While Google Plus does have a lot of privacy settings, they aren't as intuitive as you might think.
Unlike in Facebook where you make most of your profile private with one click, Google Plus requires you to change the settings on each aspect of your profile.
Each part of your profile has its own settings which allow viewing by the public, your own circles, extended circles (friends of friends), or just by you. You can also choose to make your profile in general private. That means it won't be indexed by search engines.
That means people won't find it if they search for your name.
Also keep in mind that any posts or comments you put on Google Plus have the option to be public or limited to certain groups of friends. Any public posts will also be picked up by search engines and easily findable.
Just because you block the profile from public viewing doesn't mean it will automatically be removed from search engines. It can take a while for new indexing to catch up to your new privacy settings.
In the meantime, making all elements of your profile private will keep prying eyes away. A good marketing team can also help you clean up your online image.
Your Google Plus account is still there unless you deleted it. There is that option in the settings if you don't want the service anymore.
Internet privacy isn't a one-time click solution and each social media website is different. Google Plus privacy is only one piece of controlling your online identity.
Related Resources:
- A Guide to Google+ Privacy and Information Control (Lifehacker)
- Google Plus for Business Can Further Market Your Law Firm (FindLaw's Strategist)
- Google+ + Law Firm Marketing = Increased Firm Income? (FindLaw's Strategist)