On the eve of personally moving full-steam into the digital marketing world (“day job”-wise), it’s hard not to reflect on the marvels and pace of technology. Google alone has impacted most of our lives, and the company recently announced it will be moving to “universal search,” which will compile findings from a search to include video, news, local content and books. Yet as Google continues to evolve our ability to gain information, our friends at Momcierge tipped us off to this one worthy watchout:
   

Now offering of a phone number may yield more information than you might like…

It’s supposed to be a source of accomplishment and comfort when your child memorizes your home phone number. However, as non-alarmist as we are, should they innocently offer those digits to someone who should not need to know them, your phone number can now be typed into the Google search bar and will likely produce your home address, a map to get there, and even satellite images of your street.

 
   

What is your recourse?

First, type in your phone number as a Google search and see what comes up. If you decide it produces more information than you’d like to have so accessible, all you need to do is click on your phone number and request to have it removed from this list; once you complete the form, your information will be permanently removed from all Google phonebook listings.
 
   
Weigh the pros and cons and decide if you’d rather be unlisted…
As it has been with the good-old paper phonebooks, the majority of Americans prefer to be listed, and the same may continue to be true with virtual phonebooks. It’s simply the quick access to all that additional data that gives pause, especially as more and more people discover both the joys (and presumably, the downsides) of a little snooping.

If you feel strongly about becoming unlisted, make sure you go beyond Google to the other major phonebook sites, including whitepages.com, phonenumber.com and switchboard.com.

www.Google.com
 
   
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