Upon Google-ing myself, I came upon only a couple hits: my Facebook page and my class-created twitter account. I also found a picture of myself on Google Images from middle school when I was photographed at a charity benefit. Until I enter the working world, I am happy with my search engine standing--there is some information about me but none too much. Once I enter the job market as I leave college I will probably want to be a little bit more Google-able so that I can better advertise myself. Right now I think I have just the right amount of visibility on the internet, and I try to keep all of my online information on password protected sites like Facebook.
There are many risks and rewards that are associated with increased Google-ability. On the positive side, Google can be a great way for an individual or a company to market itself. Because advertising is so based on visibility, the fact that Google provides online traffic to all parts of the web is a boon to business and an aid to any job search. Of course, this could be spun against someone or something as anything negative written about a person or a product could potentially make its way into the hands of prospective employers or valued consumers. Because Google does not parse through its information, it has no control over whether online reviews or articles that are not credible make their way to the forefront. Thus, for people who are able to keep a tight lid on themselves, Google can be a very useful tool. For those who may run into any trouble, Google could potentially never let them forget it.
I agree that Google is a great tool for rising companies that are trying to get their name out there. Just appearing on the first page of a Google search can generate tons of hits to one's site, thus increasing the reputation of the site or company. However, there there are already so many well-established companies, so it is difficult to get on Google's front page of searches in the first place. You make a good point when you say that Google doesn't parse through its information, so they have no say whether or not a site appears on the front page or not - it's all based on algorithms.
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