New page shows users what personal info others can see
People concerned about how much information is out there about them on Google have a new way to control what everyone can see.
Without any fanfare, Google has begun rolling out an About Me page to make it easier for people to control what others can see about them across Google services.
The page should be welcome news to people concerned about their privacy, according to Zeus Kerravala, an analyst with ZK Research.
"With this feature, there are no changes to what information people can see, but a way for people to better control what people can see about them across Google services in one place," a Google spokesperson wrote in an email to Computerworld.
Google, with its myriad services like Gmail, search, YouTube and productivity apps, has been collecting a lot of information about its users.
The About Me page, which is tailored for each user, contains information like work history, contact information, educational background and places the user has lived, along with gender and birthday.
The page also enables users to edit or delete information that they don't want people to be able to see.
Information on the page had lived within Google+ users' profiles. People could edit their information there. The issue, though, is that Google+ isn't nearly as ubiquitous as Facebook, for instance, so respectively not many people had access to their profile information.
"People who don't have a Google+ profile now have the option of sharing more information if they'd like," the Google spokesperson wrote. "But they are not required to, and by default, they won't be sharing any new information unless they decide to and make those changes."
Kerravala said this should make it easier for people to take control over what information is out there about them on various Google services.
"Well, it varies by person, but, in general, I think there is a fair amount of fear regarding the information Google has on everyone," he said. "Now I can share it in the way I'm most comfortable. It certainly lets people customize what people can know and not know about them... I think people who are concerned with their privacy will use this."
In the third and final episode of our 3-part CMO50 video series exploring modern marketing and why it’s become a matter of trust, we’re delighted to be joined by Telstra’s former CMO and now digital services and sales executive, Jeremy Nicholas, and Adobe VP Marketing Asia-Pacific and Japan, Duncan Egan.
Flash back to the classic film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Television-obsessed Mike insists on becoming the first person to be ‘sent by Wonkavision’, dematerialising on one end, pixel by pixel, and materialising in another space. His cinematic dreams are realised thanks to rash decisions as he is shrunken down to fit the digital universe, followed by a trip to the taffy puller to return to normal size.
Why is it there is no shortage of leadership development materials, yet outstanding leadership is so rare? Despite having access to so many leadership principles, tools, systems and processes, why is it so hard to develop and improve as a leader?
As a nation united by sport, brands are beginning to learn money alone won’t talk without aligned values and action. If recent events with major leagues and their players have shown us anything, it’s the next generation of athletes are standing by what they believe in – and they won’t let their values be superseded by money.
